Trudeau announces plans to ban single-use plastics by 2021
Posted June 10, 2019 7:38 am.
MONTREAL – The federal government has announced its intention to ban single-use plastics as early as 2021.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement today at a nature reserve in Mont St-Hilaire, south of Montreal.
Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau says plastic pollution is a global problem. Says how does he explain to his kids why dead whales are washing up on shore with bellies filled with plastic bags #cdnpoli
— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) June 10, 2019
The details of how such a ban would be implemented remain unknown, but the government will conduct research to determine the best course of action, which it says will be grounded in scientific evidence.
Trudeau says the situation of plastic overflowing in landfills and polluting oceans and waterways has reached a breaking point, and action is needed.
Less than 10 per cent of plastic used in Canada gets recycled, and without any change in habits, Canadians will be throwing out $11 billion worth of plastic products by 2030.
"If we want to let our kids be kids we have to ensure the environment they're playing in is clean and safe," says @JustinTrudeau who says the new policy will protect wildlife and make oceans, lakes and rivers cleaner.
— Ash Kelly she/her (settler) (@AshDKelly) June 10, 2019
The products could include such single-use items as drinking straws, water bottles, plastic bags, cutlery, stir sticks and fast food containers.