The Government of Canada published the final regulations today to prohibit single-use plastics which includes: checkout bags; cutlery; foodservice ware made from or containing problematic plastics that are hard to recycle; ring carriers; stir sticks; and straws although there are a few exceptions for those who have medical conditions or disabilities that require a flexible plastic straw to eat, drink or take medication.

The ban on the manufacture and and import of the single-use plastics specified will come into effect in December 2022 and the sale of these items will be prohibited as of next December. Canada will also prohibit the export of plastic in the areas specified.

The government estimates that the ban on single-use plastics will result in the estimated elimination of over 1.3 million tonnes of hard-to-recycle plastic waste and more than 22,000 tonnes of plastic pollution, which is equivalent to over a million garbage bags full of litter.

In Canada, up to 15 billion plastic checkout bags are used every year and approximately 16 million straws are used daily. Single-use plastics like these make up most of the plastic litter found on shorelines across Canada.