A group looking to eliminate single use plastics say the province’s proposed plastic bag ban is a good start.
But Teresa Quilty with Plastic Free Lunenburg says Bill 152 doesn’t do enough to change people’s habits.
She says government also needs to be careful they don’t do more harm.
Quilty points out when the UK implemented a similar ban, stores began giving away reusable plastic bags that put more plastic in to the environment.
She says the legislation needs to be more robust.
“To include disincentive fees around other single-use alternatives that will result from this ban and to set a timeline for other single-use plastics that also need to be banned.”
Quilty says those disincentive fees could be 15 to 25 cents per plastic bag charged to consumers.
“Being charged a fee that causes people to think, gee, I’m going to start bringing my own bag,this is too much money, is what we’re aiming for.”
Quilty says she applauds government taking some action on single-use plastics but takes issue with the number of exceptions Bill 152 would allow.
Those include bags for bulk items such as fruit and vegetables, dry cleaning bags, baked goods and to contain small hardware items like nails and bolts.
Meanwhile, the province’s Environment Minister Gordon Wilson says he’s heard from Municipalities, residents and the Retail Council of Canada about the need for ban.
Wilson says the list of exceptions is necessary to ensure the food Nova Scotians consume is packaged in a safe manner.
“The other areas would be bulk items, things that are very difficult in other ways to handle when you go to a retail outlet. So basically, the exceptions that were put in there in PEI that have been in place, we adopted those.”
Wilson says food safety was top of mind when drafting the list of exceptions.
“Our awareness of food safety and cross-contamination has moved a long ways. I think the world we’re in today is a lot different from the one we used to be in for food safety.”
Wilson says the bill is based in part on a similar bill enacted on Prince Edward Island.
Once the bill passes second reading the public will have a chance to offer their input at Law Amendments Committee.
Wilson expects Bill 152 will be pass before this sitting of the house ends in the fall.
Reported by: Ed Halverson
Twitter: @edwardhalverson
E-mail: halverson.ed@radioabl.ca
