“Only 8% of the plastic we throw away is recycled,” said French Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos in French, adding that 43,000 tonnes of disposable plastics a year find their way into the environment, especially on waterways. Duclos teamed up with Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault on a beach in Quebec City to announce the final text of the ban, which includes a ban on disposable plastic bags, cutlery, reeds, stirring sticks, transport rings and bins. The ban on the manufacture and import of these six items will begin in December 2022 and the ban on sale a year later. By the end of 2025, Canada will also ban exports, making it “the first of its peer jurisdictions to do so internationally,” according to a government news release. “The Canadian people have been very clear with us,” he said of the prevalence of plastic in soil, air, drinking water and food. “They are tired of seeing plastic garbage in parks, streets [and other locations]. » The regulations have some notable exceptions. Retailers will be allowed to sell disposable plastic flexible straws if packaged next to a beverage container and if the packaging was done outside a commercial store. They will also be allowed to sell packages with 20 or more disposable straws, as long as they are kept away from the customer. The new regulations also remove bans on plastic packaging for consumer goods – the world’s leading source of plastic waste, although Canada has promised to ensure that all plastic packaging will contain at least 50% recycled content by 2030. In 2018, Canada led the creation of the International Charter for Plastic Oceans, which has since been signed by 28 countries, including France, Germany and Costa Rica. The commitment includes measures to reduce the use of plastics and work with industry to increase plastic recycling rates.
