As most of my readers know, I have a strong personal opinion regarding the plastic bag ban in the City of Toronto, which will take effect January 1, 2013. Most people are so happy that they don’t have to pay 5 cents for a bag that they don’t realize that in less than two months, the plastic bag will be banned in Toronto and replaced by paper bags.
I learned through the media this past week about an organization called Reverse the Bag Ban that is calling for Toronto City Council to change their minds and allow plastic bags to be offered to consumers as required. I took the time to surf through their website, as well as All About Bags. There is a ton of information that dispels a lot of myths regarding plastic bags as well as the people who use them. I am tired of environmentalists thinking that people who use plastic do not care about the Earth. This couldn’t be farther from the truth.
This infographic was reproduced with permission from ReverseTheBagBan.ca
- Almost 80% of Ontarians re-use their plastic bags at least two times before disposing them.
- Plastic bags make up less than 1% of landfill waste.
- There are facilities in Ontario that recycle plastic bags into exciting new products such as outdoor furniture, office supplies, and plastic lumber. Take a look at the Canadian Plastics Industry website to see how it’s done.
- You need to wash your reusable bags so that bacteria will not contaminate your food. (How many people do that?)
Moreover, people will continue to use plastic bags. Not even the “greenest” people will want to stoop and scoop pet waste with a paper bag! Over 10,000 Ontarians (including 5,000 Torontonians) are employed in this sector, which includes plastic bag manufacturers and plastic re-processing plants. What will happen to all those people when they lose their jobs? The Plastic Bag Lifecyle is almost 100% Canadian from start to finish, whereas the reusable bags are being made in China, and the landfill site is located over the border in Michigan.
The cost of paper bags will be much higher than plastic so consumers will probably see an increase in prices wherever paper bags are offered. Plastic product prices will also be driven up because of the lack of recyclable plastic. The thought of rising prices drives me crazy!
If you live in Toronto, your voice can still be heard. Reverse the Bag Ban has a “Take Action” form that will send your message to the entire City Council including the Mayor, or you can find your Councillor’s contact information through the City of Toronto website.
On the poop and scoop front, there are a lot of biodegradable products available for that very purpose.
There is also the possibility for displaced workers from plastic bags to end up manufacturing paper bags. There is both forestry and pulp and paper manufacturing throughout Canada.
That’s true, but those biodegradable products cost considerably more. And there may be similar jobs recycling paper but relocation will be required. While we have differing opinions, I appreciate you taking the time to comment!