Canada is set to ban the use of single-use plastic for the sake of the environment. It doesn’t want to allow the harmful single-use plastic to mix with its environment. According to Philip Demokritou, director of the Nanoscience and Advanced Materials Research Center, and the Henry Rutgers Chair in Nanoscience and Environmental Bioengineering at the Rutgers School of Public Health and Environmental, only a small portion of the plastic we throw here and there can be recycled. He said, over the past 50 to 60 years, we’ve placed 6 billion metric tons of plastic waste into our environment during the Age of Plastic. They are out there degrading slowly. And these tiny fragments are making it into the water we drink, the food we eat and the air we breathe.”
Statements on Single-use plastic by Government
Concerning the increase in single-use plastic, the Government in a statement said “The ban on the manufacture and import of these harmful single-use plastics, barring a few targeted exceptions to recognize specific cases, will come into effect in December 2022,” Products like grocery bags, cutlery and straws will come under the ban.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Tweeted, “We promised to ban harmful single-use plastics, and we’re keeping that promise. The ban on the making and importing of plastic bags, cutlery, straws and other items comes into effect in December 2022 – and selling these items is prohibited as of December 2023.” The environment and climate change minister, Steven Guilbeault said, “With these new regulations, we’re taking a historic step forward in reducing plastic pollution, and keeping our communities and the places we love clean.” Sarah King, head of the environmental group’s oceans and plastics campaign, said in a statement. “The government needs to shift into high gear by expanding the ban list and cutting overall plastic production.” Now it will be interesting to see how Canada becomes successful in its vision and other countries follow it.
