To reduce waste in our landfills and communities, a New Democrat government will ban single-use plastics across Canada and hold companies responsible for the entire lifecycle of their plastics products and packaging. We’ll help municipalities improve their waste management and recycling programs and work towards a zero-waste future.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Set national targets to reduce the production of solid waste and work with provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments to achieve those targets.
Implement an extended producer responsibility program to hold manufacturers financially responsible for the waste associated with the production, distribution, packaging and end of life of their products.
Require an increasing percentage of recycled plastic feedstock in durable plastic products.
Require all products to be fully recyclable using readily available processes.
Phase out Canada’s export of solid waste to other countries. If we produce it, we should manage it.
Establish a plastics lifecycle advisory group, comprising representatives from all sectors in the lifecycle of plastic products, scientists, and federal and provincial government representatives, to provide guidance and recommendations in establishing plastics biodegradability, recyclability and sustainability standards.
Adopt a precautionary approach to limit the production and use of persistent contaminants in plastic, based on evolving research into the human health impacts of micro-fibres and other micro-plastics.
In consultation with food distributors and sellers, set 2022 reusable and refillable packaging targets for supermarkets and other food stores.
By January 2022, ban the production, distribution and sale of all unnecessary or non-essential petroleum-based single-use plastics, including: carry-out and produce bags, balloons, straws, plates, cups, lids, cutlery, cotton buds, drink stirrers, cigarette filters, and plastic water bottles (less than four litres); packaging, including multilayer packaging, packing straps, all multipack rings, takeaway packaging, and all expanded polystyrene (styrofoam) packaging; and all single-use plastics that are not easily recyclable or have additives that make them non-recyclable, including thermoset plastics.
Extend the ban on microbeads to include household and industrial cleaning products.
By 2021, require all new washing machines sold in Canada to have a removable, cleanable filter to capture micro-fibres that otherwise pass through water treatment plant filters and into water bodies.
By 2021, fund proper solid waste management systems in Indigenous and Arctic communities.
Turn off the pollution taps flowing into coastal waters including municipal sewage and industrial effluents. Climate protection policies to prohibit new offshore oil and gas development and phase out existing operations will reduce the threat of marine oil spills.
Legislate cruise ship waste discharge standards that meet or exceed those of our coastal neighbours.
To reduce and mitigate plastic waste from fishing gear that entangles and kills marine animals, by January 2021 implement an Extended Producer Responsibility program for all companies making or selling synthetic fishing gear which would fund the retrieval of lost or abandoned fishing gear, commonly known as ghost nets, and the collection and recycling of old, damaged, and recovered fishing gear.
From Election Platform 2019, retrieved 2019-09-22.