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Karen Wirsig

Senior Program Manager, Plastics

Karen has worked as a journalist and as a labour and community organizer. She has participated in her downtown Toronto housing co-operative for more than 20 years. An active transportation enthusiast who favours walking, cycling, and public transit, Karen has never owned a car. She is a voracious reader and has spent her adult life trying to unlearn the common belief that humans should strive for domination over each other, over other animals, and over nature itself. She’s passionate about helping to get plastics out of the environment.

Read Karen's Posts

Oct 24, 2024

When It Comes to the Grocery Store, We’re Still Left Holding the Bag

If you’re worried about plastic pollution, you’ve likely felt exasperated unpacking your reusable bag after…

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Jul 31, 2024

New Poll: 84 per cent of People across Canada Want Grocery Chains to Get Rid of Unnecessary Plastic

Support also strong for further government action on plastics Toronto | Traditional territories of the…

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Jul 12, 2024

Buying Groceries without Garbage Packaging Is Possible — And Should Be Much More Available!

This Plastic Free July, we are turning our sights on Canada’s grocery stores — one…

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Jul 05, 2024

When Will Grocery Stores Finally Clean up Their Act When It Comes to Plastics?

Throwaway grocery checkout bags are mostly a thing of the past. That’s thanks to a…

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Apr 18, 2024

Statement: Private Member’s Bill Would Re-Open Plastic Pollution Floodgates in Canada

House debate on industry-friendly bill coincides with arrival of international delegates for plastics treaty negotiations…

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Feb 01, 2024

Burning Garbage Will Not Solve the Plastic Pollution Crisis

You may have heard about a miracle cure for plastic waste that creates green energy…

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Jan 26, 2024

Statement: Decision to Keep Single-Use Plastic Bans in Effect During Government Appeal Is in the Best Interest of the Public and the Environment

Statement from Senior Program Manager for Plastics, Karen Wirsig, on the decision to stay the…

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Dec 05, 2023

Next Stop: Canada, for Tense Talks on a Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution

There’s still a lot of work to do to get the global treaty we need…

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Nov 28, 2023

We Will Not Back Down: Plastics Are Toxic and Must Be Regulated in Canada

We got some bad news in November of 2023: a federal court judge ruled in…

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Aug 16, 2023

“Compostable” Checkout Bags Are Still Plastic and Should Not Be Exempted from the Federal Single-Use Plastic Bans

Statement from Karen Wirsig on Calgary Co-op’s campaign to exempt its checkout bags from single-use…

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