Plastic pollution: appearance before the Standing Committee (March 10, 2021)
What is the government doing to get to zero plastic waste?
The Government of Canada has adopted a comprehensive approach to meet its target of zero plastic waste by 2030. Important aspects of our agenda include investing in research through the Canadian Plastics Science Agenda, innovation through the Canadian Plastics Innovation Challenges and in community action through the Zero Plastic Waste Initiative. We are working in partnership with organizations and industries to improve product design for longer product life, repairability and recyclability, and to develop solutions to increase the recovery of waste plastics in Canada. We are also working to ensure producers are responsible for the waste their products generate, in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments. Our aim is to work with all sectors in order to keep plastic in the economy and out of the environment.
The Government of Canada is working with provinces and territories through the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) to address plastic waste and pollution. Together we have launched the Canada-wide Strategy for Zero Plastic Waste and adopted an Action Plan that contains collaborative actions by government to help reduce waste, improve the recovery of plastics, and help consumers do their part as well.
We announced further details on our steps to address plastic waste and pollution and our proposal to ban harmful single-use plastics. These included the release of a discussion paper outlining a proposed framework for managing plastics, a proposed list of single-use items to be banned or restricted, as well as other proposed measures to increase Canada’s ability to recycle and recover plastics. We continue to receive written feedback on these proposals and to engage with our stakeholders and partners. Environment and Climate Change Canada is committed to a collaborative approach to address plastic waste and pollution.
Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
Current scientific evidence confirms that plastic pollution is ubiquitous in the environment, and that macroplastics have been demonstrated to cause physical harm to environmental receptors on an individual level and to have the potential to adversely affect habitat integrity. Current scientific literature on microplastic is less clear and sometimes contradictory, and further research is required.
CEPA is the cornerstone federal legislation for preventing pollution, and protecting the environment and human health.
Accessing authorities under CEPA requires adding a substance to Schedule 1 (List of Toxic Substances).
The proposal by the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health to list “plastic manufactured items” is a response to the findings and recommendations of the Science Assessment of Plastic Pollution.
CEPA provides significant flexibility to tailor regulatory measures to address issues in a targeted manner. It enables various possible measures across the life-cycle of plastic manufactured items (e.g. restricting or prohibiting uses, and requiring manufacturing specifications such as recycled content or biodegradability and disposal requirements).
Single-use plastics
The Department analyzed a list of single-use plastic products, drawing from various sources including scientific studies; actions being taken by other jurisdictions; shoreline cleanups; and litter audits.
The items were analyzed through a Management Framework for Single-use Plastics. The Framework uses the following criteria: prevalence in the environment or known/suspected environmental harm; whether it has low value-recovery potential; and whether a safe alternative exists. Value-recovery potential was determined based on whether the item hampers recycling and/or wastewater treatment, is non-recyclable, has low or very low recycling rate, and/or encounters barriers to increasing its recycling rate. Items falling into these categories were proposed for potential management measures and those that met all the criteria for both categories as outlined in the Framework were proposed as candidates for a ban or restriction on its use.
Using this framework, the analysis identified six plastic manufactured items that meet the requirements of a proposed ban or a restriction. These items include: plastic checkout bags; stir sticks; 6-pack rings; cutlery; straws; and food service ware made from problematic plastics.
These single-use plastics represent a very small portion of the $25 billion in plastic products sold in Canada in 2016, but pose outsized threats to wildlife and create barriers to recovering value from plastic waste. The proposed elimination or restriction of these six plastic manufactured items is one of a range of measures that will help protect the environment and move Canada towards a circular economy. The proposed comprehensive approach to plastic waste and pollution supports the transition to a circular economy. The goal is to keep the value of plastics in the economy and out of the environment which could reduce carbon pollution by 1.8 megatonnes per year, generate $8 billion in annual revenue, and create approximately 42,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Investing in Solutions
We believe that actions by individuals, communities and industry can also make a big difference. We have provided funding for solutions to prevent pollution and support clean-up activities through the Zero Plastic Waste Initiative and the Canadian Plastics Innovation Challenges.
Through the Canadian Plastic Innovation Challenges, the Government is investing nearly $19 million to support Canadian innovators and small-and medium-sized businesses to develop solutions in high-waste generating sectors including plastic packaging, textiles and construction waste.
Since 2018, the Government has invested around $6.5 million to support innovative solutions by industry and communities to effect change within and across the plastics lifecycle to increase collection, improve value recovery, prevent plastic pollution and support a circular economy.
We also know that increasing knowledge on plastic pollution supports evidence-based action and future solutions. The Government is investing in research and bridging information gaps on the effects of microplastics on the health of Canadians and our environment. Research, development, and innovation across the entire plastics lifecycle will help keep plastic in the economy and out of the environment.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Public health protection is a top priority for the Government of Canada. The Government recognizes the importance of balancing environmental protection and clean growth with the role of plastic in protecting human health, in particular during this COVID-19 public health emergency. The Government is aware that the COVID-19 pandemic has created additional PPE-derived plastic waste, and is actively seeking mitigation strategies while also ensuring Canadians remain protected.
PPE includes a range of products such as gloves, gowns, surgical masks, face shields, goggles and N95 respirators, and these are not all produced with the same materials.
As a preliminary step the government delivered a social media campaign promoting the safe and effective use of reusable masks. To address recycling and compostability challenges, the Government of Canada, through the National Research Council of Canada, has launched two competitions for entrepreneurs: “COVID-19: Recycling technologies for disposable (single-use) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) used in the healthcare sector” and “COVID-19: Compostable disposable surgical masks and compostable disposable respirators used in the Canadian healthcare system.”
International
Canada launched the Ocean Plastics Charter during its 2018 G7 presidency. Canada continues this leadership role by encouraging countries and companies to adopt the Charter and reduce their plastic waste. Canada also invested $100 million to support solutions for environmentally sound waste management and plastic pollution mitigation in developing countries.
Canada implements its international obligations to prevent waste and litter under several legally binding international agreements including the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), and the London Convention and Protocol to prevent marine pollution by dumping at sea.
Canada also contributes to other international frameworks for action against plastic waste and litter such as: the G7 Action Plan to Combat Marine Litter, the G20 Action Plan on Marine Litter and Implementation Framework, International Maritime Organization Action Plan to Address Marine Litter from Ships, and plastic waste-related United Nations Environment Assembly resolutions.