OTTAWA -- Despite widespread adoption of municipal blue box initiatives, only about 11 per cent of plastic waste is recycled in Canada. Although a recent CBC poll found that 82 per cent of Canadians want to see government action to tackle plastic pollution, we are still failing to deal with the problem of plastic.
“We need an immediate ban on all single-use plastic items, other than those that are medically necessary,” said Green Party Leader Elizabeth May (Saanich-Gulf Islands).
“Until governments take that essential step, producers of plastics should be responsible for recycling and assisting with recycling. We’ve been grappling with recycling solutions for more than 30 years. It’s time the producers were held accountable.
“Municipalities need help to provide better household composting and recycling services and adopt strict enforcement policies. The same goes for e-waste. Companies that constantly produce and market new models should give their customers practical and ecologically sound disposal solutions.
“The Green Party wants to see a shift to a circular economy in which products and services are traded in closed loops or ‘cycles’. This permits optimal reuse, remanufacturing and recycling of products and materials and minimizes waste.”
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Rosie Emery
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