The federal government announced Monday a plan to ban single-use plastics by 2021 (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

PLASTICS BAN

City of Kamloops calls nation-wide plan to ban single-use plastics ‘move in the right direction’

Jun 10, 2019 | 5:29 PM

KAMLOOPS — Less than 10 per cent of all the plastics in Canada are recycled. The federal government is taking new measures to crackdown on the growing plastic problem.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the ban on single-use plastics like straws, plastic cutlery, and bags would come into effect as early as 2021.

The City of Kamloops is applauding the move by the federal government.

“Eliminating single-use products is a move in the right direction,” said the city’s streets and environmental manager Glen Farrow. “As we look at the whole waste hierarchy, it’s about reducing and reusing. The more products we’re able to reuse, you’ll see such a greater benefit.”

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Kamloops resident Michele Hadley has been lobbying the city to ban single-use plastic bags. But she will believe this promise when Canada takes action.

“Last year in 2018, Canada did spearhead the Ocean Plastics Charter in Quebec. At that point, Canada had made a great many promises in terms of banning single-use plastic, and to date nothing has been done.”

Hadley’s efforts have been part of a global movement. At the local level, establishments have made strides in reducing their waste.

In January 2018, the Noble Pig introduced its “Skip A Straw” program. The brew pub has yielded good results in the first 18 months.

“It’s been overwhelmingly positive,” says Noble Pig supervisor Steven Loynachan. “We thought we would get some pushback from it, but people have overwhelmingly responded in a really receptive and supportive manner.”

Most restaurants in Kamloops have followed suit with what the Noble Pig has done in terms of reducing the number of plastic straws they offer in their restaurant. The Noble Pig has biodegradable ones. Others have switched to paper straws. It’s come with an increased cost, and at least one business owner in town says there should be tax incentives to make the switch.

As for the city, it’s not known how this new legislation will impact exactly the amount of plastic waste. Plastic bags, which aren’t allowed under the Recycle BC program, are a big challenge at the landfill. But plastics are the least of the city’s concerns.

“As it relates to tonnage, [plastic] is not really our greatest focus at all right now,” noted Farrow. “We look at the tonnage, it’s the DLC waste, or the demolition land clearing waste, so the excessive amount of wood, drywall, concrete, asphalt.”

City staff, however, are bringing forward a bylaw to council on July 9. Staff will propose a ban on plastic carry-out bags that consumers would get at the grocery store.