Would these extreme laws against plastic use work in Canada?
Over one-third of plastics in Canada are created for single use products or packaging
While many of us choose to walk a bit further to find a recycling bin or bring reusable bags when we go grocery shopping, the reality is that 86 per cent of discarded plastics in Canada end up in landfills.
The Economic Study of the Canadian Plastic Industry report that was published by Environment and Climate Change Canada found that most plastic materials in Canada are not properly recycled and the sectors that generate the most plastic waste are packaging (47 per cent), automotives (9 per cent), textiles (7 per cent) and electrical and electronic equipment (7 per cent).
In June 2019 Canada announced the intent to ban single use plastics by 2021, however, there have since been very few updates as to how this will be achieved. The COVID-19 pandemic struck less than one year after this announcement, and now our new reality requires us all to incorporate single use plastics, such as gloves, masks and additional food packing, more than ever into our daily routines.
See the video above for a look at how other nations implement some of the strictest plastic laws on Earth, and what experts say is necessary for Canada to drastically reduce our consumption of single use plastics.
