Statement from Karen Wirsig, Senior Program Manager, Plastics
Toronto | Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – Today’s decision is excellent news for a planet awash in plastic pollution. The appeals court confirmed the federal government is justified in declaring plastics toxic in order to address the pollution they cause. Now, it’s time to get on with it. While the outrageous industry lawsuit succeeded in delaying much-needed federal action on plastics, we know that people in Canada support action. The government must now move quickly to strengthen and expand regulations to stem the flow of plastics-related pollution. Every month of delay means another 3,400 tonnes of plastic dumped directly into the environment in Canada, on top of all of the other health and environmental harm that comes from its production, use and disposal.
The government must use this win to:
- Strengthen and expand the bans on harmful and unnecessary single-use plastics
- Require accurate labelling of products and packaging about whether they can be recycled or composted in practice
- Require recycled content in non-food packaging
- Work with food producers and retailers to reduce single-use plastic packaging in the grocery store
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.
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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Mira Merchant, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca
