This is a big step but we know can do this for 2021,’ Justin Trudeau said. Photograph: Lars Hagberg/AFP/Getty Images

Canada will ban single-use plastics as early as 2021

Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister said that Canada will ban single-use plastics as early as 2021. The banned items will be determined based on a science-based review, however, the government put its concerns on items such as water bottles, plastic bags, and straws. Currently, Canada has recycled 10% of the plastics used.

The inspiration was drawn from the European Parliament which voted to ban single-use plastics in March, to counter pollution that ends up in waterways and fields, which was modeled on similar legislation last year by the European Union and other nations.

According to the United Nations, at least 180 countries have reduced the amount of plastic that ends up in the world’s oceans. Trudeau stated that it is very tough for him, as a dad, to explain to his kids about how whales end up washing on beaches and their stomach is packed with plastic bags. Moreover, nowadays it is really hard to take the kids to the beach and have to search a patch of sand that is not littered with plastics, and that is a problem that people have to do something about

When possible, the EU measure calls to make sustainable materials even though disposable utensils would not be completely off-limits. The changes will cost the bloc’s economy $291m to $781m a year. However, it is not clear what the cost would be for Canada.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/10/canada-ban-single-use-plastics-bags-bottles-straws-2021