Canada to ban single-use plastics as early as 2021

Canada will follow the European Union and ban single-use plastics as early as 2021. The list of items hasn’t been finalized but will likely include plastic shopping bags, straws, utensils, drink stirrers and Styrofoam food containers. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also hinted that they plan to make companies take responsibility for the plastic waste generated by their products. Recyclable products aren’t the answer because even in Canada, the recycling rate is only 11%, which means 89% of items that could be recycled end up in the landfill, or worse in our environment. Meanwhile, the United States lacks leadership on the federal level to take action.

Canada to ban single-use plastics as early as 2021