Montreal plans to ban plastic shopping bags by 2018
Tuesday, February 23, 2016, 5:18 PM - It was an undertaking that failed to gain support in one of Canada's biggest cities, but now Montreal, Que., plans to ban the use of plastic bags by 2018, according to city mayor Denis Coderre.
While plastic bags are currently banned in several small municipalities in Canada, Montreal will become the first major city to put a ban in place.
A similar initiative was proposed by Toronto city council in January 2013, but the bag ban and the five cent fee for use was overturned by November of the same year, leaving it up to individual retailers if they want to charge for plastic bags.
Montreal officials say the decision was made based on recommendations from the city's environmental committee.
"You will understand that our plan is the result of extensive analysis and thoughtful reflection," Coderre said, according to the CBC.
"Lightweight bags, which are used by the billions, are volatile and represent a clear environmental concern."
The city will give consumers and the retail industry two years to prepare, which applies to lightweight plastic shopping bags as well as bags that are oxo-degradable, oxo-fragmentable, oxo-biodegradable and biodegradable.
News - Montreal plans to ban plastic shopping bags by 2018 - The Weather Network
Tuesday, February 23, 2016, 5:18 PM - It was an undertaking that failed to gain support in one of Canada's biggest cities, but now Montreal, Que., plans to ban the use of plastic bags by 2018, according to city mayor Denis Coderre.
While plastic bags are currently banned in several small municipalities in Canada, Montreal will become the first major city to put a ban in place.
A similar initiative was proposed by Toronto city council in January 2013, but the bag ban and the five cent fee for use was overturned by November of the same year, leaving it up to individual retailers if they want to charge for plastic bags.
Montreal officials say the decision was made based on recommendations from the city's environmental committee.
"You will understand that our plan is the result of extensive analysis and thoughtful reflection," Coderre said, according to the CBC.
"Lightweight bags, which are used by the billions, are volatile and represent a clear environmental concern."
The city will give consumers and the retail industry two years to prepare, which applies to lightweight plastic shopping bags as well as bags that are oxo-degradable, oxo-fragmentable, oxo-biodegradable and biodegradable.
News - Montreal plans to ban plastic shopping bags by 2018 - The Weather Network
