Bill to Ban Plastic Bags Introduced in Nova Scotia

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Nova Scotia government has initiated measures to ban single-use plastic bags. The bill proposing the ban was tabled on the opening day of the fall session of the legislature by Environment Minister Gordon Wilson.

The bill titled “Act to Reduce the Use of Plastic Bags and Other Single-use Products” would ban single-use plastic checkout bags within one year, if passed. The one-year delay in implementation of the ban is to help customers and retailers adjust to the ban. In future, other single-use plastics such as straws and utensils will be added to the legislation, said Wilson.

The proposed bill offers exemption for food banks and charities. Also, plastic bags used for packaging bulk items like fruits, vegetables, nuts, candy, meat and fish will be exempted from the ban. The exceptions to the rule also include thin plastic film used by dry cleaners to wrap clean clothes and bags used by garages to wrap tires.

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Several environmental organizations including the Ecology Action Centre have welcomed the introduction of the bill. The Retail Council of Canada too extended support, saying that the proposed bill would help in reducing environmental footprint. He also welcomed the one year delay in implementation of the ban, as it will give retailers ample time to get rid of their bag inventories.

Meantime Alberta Premier Jason Kenney declared that his government is not interested in following suit. He termed the Nova Scotia bag ban legislation as a “meaningless, symbolic gesture”.