Proposed legislative amendments will allow the Province to ban more single-use plastics.
Amendments to the Environment Management Act will enable government to identify and take direct action to phase out single-use plastic products and packaging. The current act allows for packaging materials such as plastic checkout bags and single polystyrene foam takeout containers to be regulated or banned. Following feedback from the public and local governments, the changes will add the ability to regulate other single-use plastic products like drinking straws, utensils and stir sticks. Decisions will be made based on environmental and economic impacts of any bans, with the first phase of new regulations expected in early 2023.