Canada has launched an intensified battle against plastic: What made the list
On December 20, a ban on the use of disposable plastic will take effect: from purchase to production.
By 2030, the Canadian government intends to completely stop the use and production of plastic. Plastic waste must reach zero. Initially, the ban was supposed to be introduced in 2021, but it took the whole year to review the issues.
Which plastic is covered by the ban:
- Plastic grocery bags are most commonly sold at checkout counters in stores. Since December 20, their production and sale have been under a partial ban. The list also includes cloth bags, unless they pass a special test: the product must be able to withstand 10 kg and 100 items of washing.
- Disposable cutlery. The list includes knives, forks, spoons, spatulas and chopsticks that change their physical properties when washed 100 times in the dishwasher.
- Containers for storing and transporting food, plates, and cups, which consist entirely or partially of plastic and are made of expanded polystyrene foam. This element is often used in salad containers.
- Sticks for stirring coffee or other drinks, as well as the plastic tubes that often come with small juice boxes. Prohibited items also include those sold separately. All items that cannot be washed in the dishwasher.
For the time being, the ban applies to the manufacture of plastic products. Sales in stores of some will continue, but only at the buyer's request. The products will be removed from display cases and other visible places.
A ban on the sale is planned for December 2023. For now, the government is trying to teach residents to use equivalent products made of cloth or paper.
