Single-use plastics ban in Canada starting in 2021

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that Canada will ban single-use plastics as early as 2021. The plan is modelled on the similar European Union legislation passed last year. In fact, European Union voted to ban single-use plastic cutlery, cotton buds, straws and stirrers as part of a sweeping law against plastic waste that despoils beaches and pollutes oceans. This is going to come into force by 2021.

About 3 million tonnes of plastic waste is thrown away each year and It is estimated that Canada recycles less than 10% of plastic waste. The announcement of the decision to undertake this directive, comes less than five months before a national election that counts climate change and pollution among the top campaign issues. “As parents we’re at a point when we take our kids to the beach and we have to search out a patch of sand that isn’t littered with straws, Styrofoam or bottles. That’s a problem, one that we have to do something about,” said Trudeau.