Long-awaited federal ban on single-use plastics to take effect this year

David Suzuki Foundation welcomes new regulation, urges government to expand ban beyond first six items

TORONTO | Traditional territory of many nations – including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples – and now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples – Canada’s new regulatory ban on six single-use plastic items lays the groundwork for zero-waste solutions, according to the David Suzuki Foundation. The Foundation’s national policy manager Lisa Gue said:

“After years of talk, the new federal regulation sends an important signal that Canada is serious about tackling plastic pollution – a major ecological threat. We were appalled to learn that dozens of industry interests attempted to block this first step with formal notices of objection to the proposed regulation, but we’re grateful that the environment minister is standing firm. Next, it will be important to expand the ban beyond the six items currently identified in the regulation.”

The federal government committed to banning harmful single-use plastics in 2019 and announced the final regulation today. It will prohibit manufacturing, import and sale of plastic checkout bags, take-out containers, straws, stirrers, cutlery and six-pack rings. Some provinces and municipalities already prohibit use of these items. The national ban will be phased in over three years, starting in December 2022.

The David Suzuki Foundation calls on government to commit to an annual review of the list of banned items with a view to expanding the ban, in line with the government’s electoral promise to end plastic pollution by 2030.

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For more information or a media interview, please contact:

Brendan Glauser, David Suzuki Foundation, (604) 356-8829, bglauser@davidsuzuki.org