Guilbeault Unveils Federal Strategy for Monitoring Canadian Plastic Manufacturing
Ottawa’s Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault has announced plans to introduce a national plastics registry in Canada to monitor plastic production.
During an April 22 press conference, Mr. Guilbeault stated, “We’re implementing a comprehensive plan to reduce plastic waste and pollution, and today I’m excited to announce a new federal plastic registry which will increase transparency and hold producers accountable.”
This announcement came a day before negotiations for a global treaty to end plastic waste, with the goal of eliminating all plastic waste by 2040 through an international agreement.
The Canadian plastic registry will initially cover plastic packaging, electronics, and single-use products, expanding in the future to include agricultural products, tires, and resins. Companies will be required to report their plastic production and distribution annually.
Mr. Guilbeault emphasized the need for increased transparency through the registry, likening it to the national inventory reports that track greenhouse gas sources.
“It is hard to tackle a problem if you don’t know what it is, where it is, what’s being produced,” he said.
Plastic-producing industries already monitor their production, sales, and distribution, and the registry will make this information accessible to the public, scientists, researchers, and NGOs for tracking and analysis.
Mr. Guilbeault stated that the current rate of plastic consumption in Canada is unsustainable, calling for global action to address the issue.
Canadians dispose of over 3 million tonnes of plastic annually, with only about 9% being recycled, according to Environment Canada. The rest ends up in landfills, energy facilities, or the environment.
Plastic Bans
The Liberal government has taken steps to address plastic pollution, with regulations set in June 2022 to ban certain single-use plastics by December 2022.
The government aimed to classify “plastic manufactured items” as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, but this was rejected by the Federal Court, citing constitutional issues.
Ottawa plans to appeal the Federal Court’s decision, citing the negative impact of plastic pollution on human health.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith expressed concerns about adding plastics to the toxic substance list, denouncing it as federal overreach.
Professor Sylvain Charlebois emphasized the cost implications of replacing plastics for food safety and freshness.
