Montreal considering plastic bag ban

The City of Montreal is considering banning retail stores from using plastic bags.

Mayor Denis Coderre made the announcement on Nov. 4, during the weekly executive committee meeting, saying that a consultation would be launched to get citizen and expert feedback first.

“We are concerned it’s a matter of an environmental issue,” executive committee member Real Menard told reporters afterwards. Ménard is in charge of organizing the consultation.

The timeline for the consultation process has not been announced.

The Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) was quick to respond to the Montreal proposal. “It should be noted that a 2007 study from Recyc-Quebec indicated that plastic bags represent less than 2% of all waste generated each year by Quebec households and they represent the best environmental recycling alternative after reduction and reuse,” CPIA said in a statement. “We will work hard…to defeat any ban and ensure that the best interests of the environment are served.”

The City of Toronto tried to ban plastic bags on Jan. 1, 2013, but backed down after a public outcry and a legal challenge.