The Canadian government is moving forward with a plan to restrict single-use plastic products. .“By the end of the year, you won’t be able to manufacture or import these harmful plastics,” said Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault in a Monday press release. .“After that, businesses will begin offering the sustainable solutions Canadians want, whether that’s paper straws or reusable bags.”.The press release said the Canadian government has established new regulations to prohibit single-use plastics such as grocery bags, six-pack rings, and straws. .The ban on importing and manufacturing these single-use plastics, with a few exceptions, will take effect in December 2022, according to the press release. It said selling these items will be prohibited as of December 2023 to provide businesses with time to transition and to deplete existing stocks. .The Canadian government will prohibit exporting single-use plastics by the end of 2025, making Canada the first country to do so. .The press release said selling single-use plastic straws will be restricted effective December 2023. There will be exceptions to the ban on single-use plastic straws for people who need them for medical or accessibility reasons. .It said manufacturing and importing single-use six-pack rings and flexible straws packaged with beverage containers will come into force in June 2023. Selling these items will be banned effective June 2024. .This ban is estimated to eliminate 1.3 million tons of plastic waste and more than 22,000 tonnes of plastic pollution over the next decade. .“With these new regulations, we’re taking a historic step forward in reducing plastic pollution, and keeping our communities and the places we love clean,” said Guilbeault. .Alberta Energy Minister Sonya Savage told the Canadian government its proposal to ban single-use plastics is an overstep of its authority. .“This should remain a provincial responsibility,” said Savage. .“A federal ban, announced through changes to a regulatory schedule, is a one-size-fits-all approach that quite simply doesn’t fit.”.The World Population Review said in 2016 Canada was not among the largest producers of plastic waste in the world. .The country that produced the most plastic waste was the US at 34 tons. This was followed by India (26.3), China (21.6), and Brazil (10.7).
