Canada has banned single-use plastics

(Rinnovabili.it) – Nothing more Disposable plasticCanada has reached the last leg of its journey Prohibition Pollutants. Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Gilbelt, and the Minister of Health, Jean-Yves Duclos, published the final regulations today. Envelopes, travel bags, tableware, and hard recyclable food items made from single-use plastics are prohibited.

“We promised Canadians to ban single-use plastics. What we did today – Guilbeault comment. – By the end of this year, we will no longer manufacture or import these harmful plastics. After that, companies will start offering sustainable solutions that Canadians want, whether it’s paper straws or reusable bags. With these new regulations, we are taking a historic step in reducing plastic pollution and keeping our communities and the places we love clean.

Ban single use plastic

In Canada, 15 billion plastic bags and 16 billion straws are used each year. Products that add to the massive pollution of beaches and oceans. The ban on production and import will come into effect from December 2022. However, this will be applicable from December 2023 onwards for sale as the existing stock in the country has been exhausted, the time estimated by the government. Exports must be phased out by the end of 2025: Canada will be the first jurisdiction internationally to do so. The exceptions provided are strictly limited: plastic straws are still available at home and in healthcare facilities for people who request them for medical or accessibility reasons. From June 2023, the production and import of conveyor rings and flexible straws filled with beverage containers (juices) will be prohibited: from June 2024, no time will be allowed to manufacture them. to rearrange.

Reorganizing the system for the ban is one of the most important aspects of the plan: the government has released two documents aimed at companies adapting to the new regulations and proposing sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics.

Estimated positive impacts

Government estimates believe that over the next decade, recycling will lead to around 1.3 million tonnes of hard plastic waste and the removal of 22,000 tonnes of plastic pollution – the equivalent of filling one million garbage bags. The initiative is part of the country’s environmental policies to reduce waste and pollution, in line with its commitment to the Ocean Plastics Charter and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In addition to environmental objectives, the government is also concerned with people’s health. Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said: “We are focused on protecting the health of Canadians while improving our environment. We know that plastic pollution can be found in outdoor air, food and drinking water, so by addressing this, we will improve health outcomes for all Canadians. These new regulations mark a turning point for Canada. We are taking strong action to protect the environment by creating cleaner and healthier communities across the country.