At Monday night’s council committee meeting, Coun. Ralph Cipolla and Mayor Steve Clarke won their colleagues’ support to have city staff prepare a report about the feasibility of banning single-use plastics.

“Every year, Canadians throw away about three million tons of plastic waste,” noted Cipolla, adding this represents about $8 billion in lost value and waste. 

“About one-third of the plastics used in Canada are for single-use or short-lived products and packaging,” Cipolla said. “In fact, in Canada, up to 15 billion plastic bags are used every year and close to 57 million straws are used daily.”

Cipolla said he’s driven by a desire to improve the environment for future generations.

“If we don’t do anything, 20 years from now, my grandchildren are going to say: ‘Grandpa, why did you let it happen?’”

Read the full and original story at OrilliaMatters.com