CPIA supports Ontario’s plan to cut plastic bag use by 2012

The Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) has endorsed a new plan by the Ontario McGuinty government that aims to reduce the use of plastic bags by 50 per cent over the next five years.

The government announced that the CPIA, along with the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors (CCGD), the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG), the Recycling Council of Ontario (RCO) and the Retail Council of Canada (RCC), have agreed to the deal brokered by Environment Minister Laurel Broten.

“It’s very encouraging that industry is ready and willing to take on this challenge publicly and work with us to dramatically reduce, re-use and recycle more in Ontario,” Broten said.

In addition to the reduction commitment, the pact includes consideration of in-store and Blue Box recycling programs for Ontario stores and consumer education initiatives to promote the reduction, reuse and recycling of bags already in circulation.

“The Minister’s announcement today will have a positive impact on the [bag and film] sector by encouraging new recycling streams and technologies, and this will lead to new job creation opportunities as well,” said Serge Lavoie, the CPIA’s president and CEO.

The new provincial program will also include annual monitoring and reporting to ensure that progress is being made. Additionally, the government said it would fund research into overarching packaging issues, and the Association of Municipal Recycling Coordinators and Clean Air Foundation will lead research projects.