Following LA with their ban earlier in the year..
Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1266319--toronto-plastic-bag-ban-upheld
What do you think about plastic bag bans at stores? For grocery shopping we have reusable fabric bags, and smaller mesh bags for fruits and veggies.. so this doesn't effect me at all. I don't think this will stop people from being pigs and trashing their city with garbage, but it's probably best people get their heads around reusing bags.
Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1266319--toronto-plastic-bag-ban-upheld
In another blow to Mayor Rob Ford, city council has voted not to reconsider its June decision to ban plastic bags as of Jan. 1.
Ford had urged the public to lobby their councillors to keep the bags. But Councillor David Shiner, the architect of the ban, said he only received eight calls.
The council decision in June to ban the bags could only be re-opened if two thirds of council agreed. The vote was 27-18, short of the two thirds threshold.
The move to reopen came in the wake of advice from the city solicitor that the ban was open to legal challenge because it was passed without first consulting the public and stakeholders.
The Canadian Plastics Industry Association, which has been fighting the ban since June, said legal action was an option.
Bags are a necessity in Toronto, said association director general Marion Axmith. Torontonians like plastic bags and they want to continue to have the option to use them.
Plastic shopping bags have received a bad rap, Axmith said.
Torontonians rely on them for household pet and organic waste, 85 per cent of the bags are re-used, very few go to landfill and the balance are recycled in the blue box system into useful products.
Shiner, whose surprise motion in June to ban the bags passed 24-20, said public opinion is on his side.
Its not the public thats outraged, he told reporters. The mayor said call your councillor. I had eight phone calls. I have 65,000 people in my ward. People understand that its the right thing to do.
Shiner said he will push for public consultations at the public works committee on what type of ban should be imposed.
He suggested that details such as the precise types of bags could be thrashed out in consultations; as well as whether retailers could use up existing stocks.
He expected a bylaw implementing the ban could be prepared by staff for next months council meeting.
Technically, the bylaw could need to pass by a majority vote. If that didnt happen, then the ban wouldnt take effect.
What do you think about plastic bag bans at stores? For grocery shopping we have reusable fabric bags, and smaller mesh bags for fruits and veggies.. so this doesn't effect me at all. I don't think this will stop people from being pigs and trashing their city with garbage, but it's probably best people get their heads around reusing bags.