Everything you need to know about city's plastic-bag ban

Retail business are forbidden to distribute plastic bags in any of Montreal's 19 boroughs. While Montrealers have gotten used to the dearth of plastic bags at grocery stores, the law now extends to all businesses, including restaurants and establishments that offer takeout and delivery.

The bylaw is similar to one that came into force in Laval last year, which forbids merchants from “offering, selling or distributing” plastic bags. As of May 2022, Laval banned single-use cutlery from stores and restaurants.

WHAT KIND OF PLASTIC BAGS ARE FORBIDDEN?

Most single-use plastic bags, no matter the thickness.

ARE THERE ANY EXCEPTIONS?

Exceptions include bags used for transporting food to the checkout lane or to protect the food from contact with other items, such as those offered in grocery produce and meat aisles. Foods packaged by an external supplier and packaging that is mostly paper or cardboard with plastic lamination is allowed.

CAN I JUST ASK NICELY?

That isn't fair to your local shop owner. Borough inspectors will make sure the bylaw is applied, with fines ranging from $200 to $1,000 for a first infraction and $300 to $2,000 for subsequent ones.

WHAT CAN I USE INSTEAD?

■ Reusable shopping bags. By now, most Montrealers have hoards of them. The trick is to not forget them at home and find yourself buying “just one more.”

■ Recyclable paper bags are allowed.

■ Plastic bags already in circulation (which you might find crammed into a kitchen drawer where you've stashed them since 1997).

■ Your pockets. (This is not advised if you're buying in bulk.)

BUT WHY?

Studies show that shopping bags are used on average for only 20 minutes.

According to the city of Montreal, only 16 per cent of all plastic bags are reused; the rest end up in the environment, where it can take up to 1,000 years for them to decompose. A moment on your hips, a millennium to fix.

The plastic-bag ban is part of a plan to make Montreal a zero-waste city by 2030.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Eight types of single-use plastic items will be prohibited in Montreal grocery stores and restaurants as of March 2023, even if they are compostable: trays (except for those holding meat and fish); plates; cups or glasses and their covers; stir sticks; straws and utensils.

The federal government is moving ahead with its own plastics ban, which will come into effect in December 2023.