Sam Zhang // Edge Columnist
The Canadian federal government is banning companies from importing or making plastic bags and takeout containers by the end of this year, from selling them by the end of next year, and from exporting them by the end of 2025. According to the CBC news article “Government will ban some single-use plastic over the next 18 months” by Mia Rabson, the move will also affect single-use plastic straws, stir sticks, cutlery, and six-pack rings used to hold cans and bottles together.
This move helps protect Canada’s environment and has a significant impact on the reduction of waste from single-use plastic products and it means less plastic waste that will pollute the environment.
However, it will also affect a lot of industries, such as restaurants and supermarkets, where these single-use plastic products are widely used. Therefore, the industries need to find substitutes for those plastic products that are banned by the federal government.
In 2016, There are 157,113 tons of disposable plastic products were sold, including 124,746 tons of plastic bags, 4,511 tons of cutlery, and 16,743 tons of takeaway containers, etc. However, According to the Government of Canada, there is only 9% of the plastic in products discarded can be recycled, and 89% of them were sent to landfills.
Why are banning single-use plastic products important to us? This will significantly reduce the waste of single-use plastic products. Plastics will break down into small particles called microplastics that can stay in the water for extended periods of time. Microplastics have been found in tap water, beer, salt and are present in all samples collected in the world’s oceans, including the Arctic. Several chemicals used in the production of plastic materials are known to be toxic and it will cause serious health issues to both humans and wildlife according to IUCN’s source.
What can be done? Use recyclable materials, such as paper, wood, glasses, etc. Bring own takeaway container. Reduce the amount of single-use plastic products used.
Source: “Government will ban some single-use plastic over the next 18 months” by Mia Rabson