Ontario's Liquor Stores Ban Plastic Bags

The LCBO estimates that it was giving out about 80 million bags a year. From now on customers will be given the option of paper bags or cardboard boxes as soon as the last bags in the stores run out.

The change was announced on Tuesday by David Caplan, minister of public infrastructure renewal, and John Gerretsen, minister of the environment.

“The decision to drop plastic shopping bags but keep paper bags at LCBO outlets is a political decision, not a decision based on science,” said Serge Lavoie, president and CEO of the CPIA in a release.

“Once people understand that plastic bags are 100 per cent recyclable and are a better environmental choice than paper, they’ll make informed decisions based on fact.”

Caplan is challenging other retailers to do the same. The Canadian Plastics Industry Association says that this ban is unneeded. They contend that plastic bags can be reused and recycled.

The plastic ban movement though is growing in Ontario and across North America. Leaf Rapids in Manitoba has completely banned retailers from using the bags.

While some contend that plastic bags can needed they fill up land fills. While there is research being done on shortening the time it takes for the bags to break down at the present time it takes a thousand years.

Source: By Moments In Time http://timeinmoments.wordpress.com/