Racing to enforce the ban on certain plastic products will make it tough on retailers who are pleading with the feds to delay the ban, says Blacklock’s Reporter..Retailers on Monday appealed to the Commons Environment committee to delay a prohibition on six single-use plastic items for at least a year, arguing quick enforcement would only hurt small shopkeepers, said the Retail Council of Canada..“More clarity is needed in terms of the government’s intention to broaden the scope of the ban,” testified Philippe Cantin, senior director with the council..“Given the pandemic, businesses need as much certainty as possible.”.Last October , Cabinet proposed to ban a half-dozen everyday plastic products — including plastic straws, stir sticks, cutlery, six-pack rings, single-use checkout bags and polystyrene food containers — by December 31, 2021..The Department of Environment said other goods under review include plastic meat wrapping, fruit and vegetable bags, water bottles, cup lids and disposable wipes..“Do you feel you’ve had enough time?” asked Conservative MP Brad Redekopp (Saskatoon West)..“If there is an implementation period of one full year between the moment the ban is announced and it’s effective, yes that would be essentially what we’re asking,” replied Cantin..Professor Marc Olivier, a chemist with the University of Sherbrooke, questioned the point of any ban without full recycling programs..“It’s not a silver bullet to ban, ban, ban,” said Olivier..“We have real needs in society and we have to reconcile that.”.Cabinet has also proposed to blacklist plastics as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act but set no deadline for the amendment.
Racing to enforce the ban on certain plastic products will make it tough on retailers who are pleading with the feds to delay the ban, says Blacklock’s Reporter..Retailers on Monday appealed to the Commons Environment committee to delay a prohibition on six single-use plastic items for at least a year, arguing quick enforcement would only hurt small shopkeepers, said the Retail Council of Canada..“More clarity is needed in terms of the government’s intention to broaden the scope of the ban,” testified Philippe Cantin, senior director with the council..“Given the pandemic, businesses need as much certainty as possible.”.Last October , Cabinet proposed to ban a half-dozen everyday plastic products — including plastic straws, stir sticks, cutlery, six-pack rings, single-use checkout bags and polystyrene food containers — by December 31, 2021..The Department of Environment said other goods under review include plastic meat wrapping, fruit and vegetable bags, water bottles, cup lids and disposable wipes..“Do you feel you’ve had enough time?” asked Conservative MP Brad Redekopp (Saskatoon West)..“If there is an implementation period of one full year between the moment the ban is announced and it’s effective, yes that would be essentially what we’re asking,” replied Cantin..Professor Marc Olivier, a chemist with the University of Sherbrooke, questioned the point of any ban without full recycling programs..“It’s not a silver bullet to ban, ban, ban,” said Olivier..“We have real needs in society and we have to reconcile that.”.Cabinet has also proposed to blacklist plastics as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act but set no deadline for the amendment.
