“Why Is Canada Banning Plastics?”

We ask Robert Kitz, food industry analyst and researcher

- Courtney Shea

The federal government plans to ban certain single-use plastics by the end of the year. How does it work and how much will that change our lives?

The ban will cover six specific items: plastic straws, grocery bags, stir sticks, six-pack rings, cutlery and takeout containers. These six were selected based on both the damage they cause to the natural environment and whether there’s a readily available alternative. So with straws, for example, there are cardboard options or metal options. The difference the ban will make on your day-to-day life depends on how reliant you are on these items, but largely, these are not direct-to-consumer products, so a lot of the onus will be on businesses.

What types of businesses will be affected the most?