Nova Scotia could soon be single-use plastic bag free.
As the fall sitting began, legislation was tabled that once passed would prohibit the use of single-use plastic bags, which would take effect in a year.
The year would allow retailers to use up their surplus of bags.
Premier Stephen McNeil says the province decided to step in to provide a consistent set of rules.
“One of the things we’ve heard loud and clear from both community and the private sectors is they want uniformity across the province,” he said.
“One of the things we were finding is certain municipalities were doing portions of it, and it was different depending on which area of the province you were in.”
The legislation does have some exemptions, and would allow for single-use bags to be used in unique situations, such as the bags used by dry cleaners or the tire covers used by garages.
However, it would also allow the government to regulate other single-use plastics in the future, if needed.
“It will also allow us to work across the province by adding other plastics as we find ways to eliminate them from our daily lives,” said McNeil, “Its better for business and its better for our communities that we do this across the province.
Reported by: Cody McEachern
Twitter: @CodyInHiFi
E-mail: mceachern.cody@radioabl.ca
