I was thinking the same thing. Isn't the great plastic mess in the Pacific Ocean mostly due to their and parts of southeastern Asia's dumping?

It's a start. Every journey begins with one step. When this is launched and people and suppliers have adapted to it, they can start on banning more. They can show the world that it is doable and profitable. Leading by example. More and more countries will follow. Eventually, China will have to do this as well. They probably invent something new. Maybe first a home recycling unit - fill up your 3d printer with plastic, and print your new bag/whatever. (I know recycling isn't the best solution avoiding having to recycle it is better)

That's the kind of mindset that makes people do nothing. If one person does something, it normalizes it for someone else. Change is never going to be immediate.

Canada, for it's small population, has tons of waste. Every bit helps, and if banning plastic encourages industry to come up with solutions, why not do it.

so what would you recommend then ?

Actually, I read that China is working on something similar!

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C Hypercube follower

There are significant challenges to recycling many plastics, unfortunately a large percentage of plastic litter is of the variety that is not recyclable at all. The only plastics which can be recycled effectively are single-polymer plastics, such as HDPE and LDPE. Those are quite easy to deal with, especially from industrial sources. Blended plastics may have good material properties, but they are very difficult to refine. New plastics (of decent quality) are usually made from virgin raw materials, because contaminants are hard to remove. Buy items with minimal plastic packaging, and buy items themselves which are made from wood, leather, paper, and metals where you are able to. Make a conscious decision to avoid blended plastics. As an example, many plastics used in electronics are a blend of nylon and ABS, usually filled with glass beads or fibers. This makes them strong, durable, and non-recyclable.

Laurie Mackie lol

So just because other nations are a bigger slice of the problem, you don't have to do your part to affect change? Does your life depend on the consumption and disposal of plastic forks? People who are opposed to change for the sake of being the opposition will never be convinced. That is why legislation is required where it clearly benefits the global public good. If the forks are gone tomorrow, you can either learn to use chopsticks, bring a fork with you, or starve. I know I won't have a problem with it when the USA finally comes on board.

Nobody really *needs* a plastic straw. Going without it is a minor inconvenience. Industry has never adapted toward benefiting the public good on its own. Industry is driven by profit. Auto-makers opposed pollution restrictions because they did not want to invest in technology. Governments forced their hands, and now we have cleaner air. Industry has refused to find alternatives to plastics, so governments are now forcing their hands. Hopefully over the next few decades, an improvement in our environment will be as palpable as the lack of acid-rain where I live.

Of course! Renewable resources are better: they don't run out. Paper rots and gets back into the cycle. No microplastics get into the environment. You just have to reforest enough. Reusing bags also saves raw materials and energy. And is not particularly high in the top list of corona transmission paths, I suppose. ;)