Plastic straw, bag ban urged

Peterborough may consider banning plastic drinking straws and single-use plastic shopping bags, if a city councillor has his way.

Coun. Gary Baldwin is running for re-election in Ashburnham Ward.

On Friday he released the first pillar in his platform: if re-elected, Baldwin states in a press release, he will ask city staff to write a report for council on the feasibility of eliminating the use of plastic straws and plastic bags in the city.

Baldwin couldn’t be reached for comment Friday.

But in his release, he states that eliminating plastic straws and bags is good for the environment.

He also notes that many municipalities are already have already moved to eliminate their use – and he thinks Peterborough ought to consider it too.

Public input would be important on this issue, Baldwin states in his release.

“All citizens should be consulted,” he states.

“Merchants, restaurants and franchisees all have an important role to play in sustaining our environment and their views are necessary as this dialogue continues.

“Diverting plastics from our landfill will prolong its lifespan and send a positive message to other communities that Peterborough is indeed outside the ordinary and a leader in sustainability,” he continues.

Baldwin is correct that many other municipalities in Canada and around the world are either thinking about eliminating plastics or have already done so.

In May, Vancouver city council approved a ban on plastic drinking straws, as well as foam cups and containers, by June 2019.

City council in Victoria, B.C., meanwhile, is considering following suit. So is council in New York City.

In Brisbane, Australia, city council recently banned plastic drinking straws, single-use plastic bottles and helium balloons while the European Union has proposed a ban on plastic straws and utensils.

Meanwhile, at least two big Canadian cities have banned the use of plastic shopping bags in January: Montreal and Victoria no longer use the bags.