Single-use plastics cut back for G7 summit

OTTAWA — The federal government is reducing, but not outright banning, the use of single-use plastics at the G7 summit this week in Quebec.

Thousands of politicians, staffers, security officers, special interest groups and journalists are descending on Quebec City and Charlevoix, Que., for the G7 — the first time Canada has hosted the annual meeting since 2010 — and they all need to be fed, watered and housed for several days.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wants the other leaders to sign on to a zerowaste plastics charter, setting international deadlines for eliminating plastic waste and committing to helping the developing world meet similar deadlines.

As a result, there is an attempt to make the summit a low-plastics waste event, but not a zero-plastics waste event.

“A specific ban was not put in place,” said summit management office spokeswoman Jessica Seguin.

She said plastics will be reduced as much as possible on the various sites associated with the summit, including the host hotel where the meetings will take place and the media centre in Quebec City.

There is a priority on using reusable dishes when possible and any disposable containers or cutlery will be compostable.

Single-use plastic water bottles will largely be replaced with reusable ones.