With little good news recently, this one comes as a ray of light. In as early as 2021, Canada will be banning single-use plastic in a bid to reduce environmental pollution.

Imagine: every single year, Canadians throw away around 3 million tons of plastic waste, only 9% of which ends up recycled. The majority of that plastic ends up in landfills, and a staggering 29,000 tons get into the natural environment, according to this report from the Government Of Canada.

But starting from the next year, you’ll no longer see any plastic checkout bags, straws, stir sticks, six-pack rings, cutlery, and hard-to-recycle food ware thrown around the country. Take notes, the rest of the world. This is a wonderful example for major countries to work on actions rather than words while tackling plastic pollution.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau first announced the plastic ban in June, but the Government has now proposed a list of specific plastic items

Image credits: 2017 Canada Summer Games

This decision is part of Canada’s government plan to achieve zero plastic waste by 2030

Image credits: Quasimime

The government has proposed to ban plastic checkout bags, straws, stir sticks, six-pack rings, cutlery, and plastic food ware

Image credits: Carl Campbell

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau first announced the plastics ban last June. It was part of Canada’s comprehensive plan to accomplish zero plastic waste by 2030.

Jonathan Wilkinson, the minister for the environment, said during Wednesday’s press conference: “Plastic pollution threatens our natural environment. It fills our rivers or lakes, and most particularly our oceans, choking the wildlife that live there. Canadians see the impact that pollution has from coast to coast to coast.”

Image credits: Chemist 4 U

Image credits: Cathy Stanley-Erickson

Image credits: Jonathan Kos-Read

As a result, “the Government is introducing a comprehensive plan to get to zero plastic waste. Our plan embraces the transition towards a circular economy, recycled-content standards, and targets for recycling rates.”

The Canadian Government believes that the new single-use plastic ban will “help drive innovation across the country as new and easier-to-recycle items take their place in our economy.”

Canada’s 2030 zero plastic waste plan seeks to protect wildlife and waters, reduce  greenhouse gas emissions, and create jobs

Image credits: Donal Boyle

And this is what people had to say about Canadians coming to the forefront of fighting plastic pollution

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