Juno News - Why did Edmonton ban single-use plastics？

00:00:00.000 Let's take a look at this petition to end the plastics ban that's being discussed in Edmonton.

00:00:04.880 This is what we're watching in the weeks to come. Two weeks ago, I reported that Edmonton City

00:00:08.800 Council is considering a plastics ban. For those of you who don't remember, the bylaw would

00:00:12.900 specifically ban businesses from offering customers single-use plastic items like shopping

00:00:17.440 bags and phone cups beginning next year. Complaints of non-compliance would result in outreach and

00:00:22.400 education, followed by warnings and enforcement. Now, a citizens advocacy group is fighting back.

00:00:27.440 Common Sense Edmonton has started a petition to stop the potential plastics ban, which it says

00:00:32.400 will hurt consumers while providing no benefit to the environment. Will Vishloff, a spokesperson for

00:00:37.480 the advocacy group Common Sense Edmonton, says the proposal is more virtue signaling price increases

00:00:43.020 from the government, which would hurt regular consumers who are already struggling from tax

00:00:47.820 increases and inflation. Quote, people understand the need to reduce waste, but they want the choice

00:00:54.160 to do so in the ways that make the most sense. In this case, the replacement products that the

00:00:58.640 government is mandating are probably not any more environmentally friendly while being less

00:01:03.040 practical and effective. If you're interested in taking a look at their arguments and the petition,

00:01:08.000 you can find it on their websites, commonsenseedmonton.com.

Juno News - September 27, 2022