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Canada will ban the manufacture and import of “harmful” disposable plastics later this year, the government said, in a radical effort to combat pollution and climate change.
Most plastic bags, cutlery and straws would be under ban, with a few exceptions for medical needs, Canada’s environment ministry said on Monday.
“The ban on manufacturing and importing these harmful single-use plastics, with a few specific exceptions to recognize specific cases, will take effect in December 2022,” it said in a statement.
“To give Canadian companies enough time to transition and deplete their existing stocks, the sale of these items will be banned from December 2023.” It will also stop exporting these plastics by the end of 2025, to avoid international pollution, he added.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who promised to remove hard-to-recycle plastics in 2019 for the first time, praised the move as a boost to Canada’s efforts to tackle climate change. “We are committed to banning harmful single-use plastics and we are living up to that promise,” he tweeted.
“Over the next 10 years, this ban will lead to the estimated disposal of more than 1.3 million tonnes of plastic waste and more than 22,000 tonnes of plastic pollution. This equates to one million full garbage bags. of rubbish, ”he added.
We are committed to banning harmful single-use plastics and we are living up to that promise. The ban on manufacturing and importing plastic bags, cutlery, straws and other items will take effect in December 2022, and the sale of these items is banned from December 2023.
– Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) June 20, 2022
In Canada, up to 15 billion plastic bags are used each year and approximately 16 million straws are used daily, according to government figures, with these disposable plastics making up most of the plastic waste. located off the coast of Canada.
“With these new regulations, we are taking a historic step in reducing plastic pollution and keeping our communities and the places we love clean,” said Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Global efforts continue to address material that takes centuries to decompose.
Kenya, Chile, the United Kingdom and the European Union have imposed several bans on disposable plastic products, while Canada’s neighbor, the United States, ranks as the world’s largest contributor of plastic waste, according to a report. mandated by published Congress. last year.
The United Nations earlier this year laid the groundwork for an ambitious and legally binding treaty to reduce plastic waste. The global treaty to “end plastic pollution” could lead to limits on plastic production or impose rules to make plastic easier and less toxic to reuse.
However, the treaty proposals are provisional and have been rejected by the oil and petrochemical industries.
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The coronavirus pandemic was also seen by environmentalists as a step backwards in the global plastic crisis for many nations. The use of disposable masks and personal protective equipment led to a sharp rise in pollution, with some 8 million metric tons of pandemic-related plastic waste created by 193 countries, according to a global study published in last year. Much of the waste has ended up in the oceans, threatening to disrupt marine life and polluting beaches.
Here is the plan 👇
✅ 2022: ban on the manufacture and import of these disposable plastics✅ 2023: ban on sale✅ 2025: ban on export
Taken together, these actions will eliminate more than 1.3 MILLION tonnes of plastic waste. pic.twitter.com/9uMFdM5rVZ
– Steven Guilbeault (@s_guilbeault) June 20, 2022
Greenpeace Canada welcomed the Ottawa movement, but said the country still needed to do more.
“Posting the regulations is a critical step forward, but we’re not even on the starting line yet,” Sarah King, head of the environmental group’s Oceans and Plastics campaign, said in a statement. “The government needs to move at a high speed by expanding the list of bans and reducing global plastic production.”
The Sierra Club Canada Foundation, an environmental charity, also called on the Canadian government to implement “even faster action to curb the tide of plastic pollution.” He said public pressure was growing and suggested expanding the product list to include drinking cups, cigarette filters and single-service packs.
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The United States contributes more to the polluting flood than any other nation, generating about 287 pounds of plastics per person per year.
Some states have made efforts slowly, and New York implemented a ban on single-use plastic bags in 2020. Earlier this month, a California law was introduced to reduce plastic production. for disposable products such as shampoo bottles and food wraps. 25% from the next decade.
The Biden administration issued an order this month to remove disposable plastic products and packaging on public land by 2032, according to a statement from the Department of the Interior. This includes plastic and polystyrene packaging for food and beverages, bottles, straws and cups, he said.