In a fantastic initiative to reduce plastic waste, Canada will ban single-use plastics as early as 2021 from coast to coast. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on 10th June.
While the items that will come under the ban have not been disclosed yet, plastic cups, plastic bags, straws, water bottles, plastic cutlery, and stir sticks could be included in the list.
In addition to this initiative, the government will also institute targets for organizations that produce plastics so that they are responsible for the wastes they produce.
“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,” Mr Trudeau said. “That’s a problem, one that we have to do something about.”
Calling the menace of plastic pollution a global challenge, Trudeau was optimistic about Canada being able to curb the use of these plastics.
The Prime Minister’s Twitter account also put up a tweet about the same.
Canadians are tired of seeing our beaches, parks, streets, and shorelines littered with plastic waste. Learn more about the action we’re taking to ban harmful single-use plastics: https://t.co/GZBt0K10Nt #BeatPlasticPollution pic.twitter.com/eZ0yT8ckY5
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) June 10, 2019
Unfortunately, today, less than 10 per cent of plastic in Canada is recycled. Also, a massive 3 million tonnes of plastic waste is thrown away annually in the North American nation.
This initiative has taken inspiration from the European Union that voted in October 2018 to impose prohibitions on single-use plastics. Several other nations across the globe have taken such measures to reduce ocean wastes.
This move by the Canadian government is laudable. More nations should follow suit, and do so as soon as possible. What do you think? Do let us know your views!
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