Retail Councils calls for Ontario-wide plastics strategy

TORONTO — The Retail Council of Canada has issued an open letter to Ontario Environment Minister Jeff Yurek calling for a co-ordinated provincial action on single-use plastics. With more and more municipalities crafting policies in response to consumer concerns, the council fears a “patchwork of plastic bag by-laws” will create bureaucratic hurdles for its members, who are “steadfastly committed to reducing the environmental impact of their operations.” The letter has received a positive response from the minister. In his reply, Yurek wrote that over the next few months Ontario “will look to put in place a Blue Box program that standardizes the list of materials to be collected across the province, improves diversion and provides industry the flexibility to use innovative approaches that minimize costs to business”.