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Elected officials with the City of Two Mountains have passed a new bylaw forbidding the distribution of single-use plastic shopping bags by retailers on its territory. The effort is part of a green plan started by the city in 2006 and is considered major step forward towards reducing waste, and protecting ecosystems and the nearby environment.
A lot of plastic
In Two Mountains alone, it is estimated that more than 1.5 million plastic bags were being distributed annually until the advent of the bylaw. That number of bags requires 30 tons of plastic. Taking into account that at Tricentris, the regional recycling depot for the area, more than 117 tons of plastic cannot be re-used and must be shipped to China for incineration, Two Mountains council judged that the time had arrived to take an important step forward for the sake of protecting the environment.
Starts July 1
The bylaw will be coming into effect on July 1, after which retailers will have to stop distributing plastic bags. As the bylaw aims at a reduction at the source, it will not allow for substitution of conventional plastic bags with compostable bags made of corn starch, nor bio-degradable bags designed to decompose more rapidly.
The clientele of businesses located in Two Mountains will, rather, be invited to employ re-usable shopping bags sold by many grocery chains now. Retailers will be able to offer altenatives at their discretion, although the city is not recommending that they replace plastic with paper bags.
City seeks sponsors
As the first city to adopt such a bylaw in the Montreal region, officials with Two Mountains believe they have particular reason to feel proud. To underscore the environmentally-positive effort and to encourage people to abide by the new bylaw, the city had re-usable bags manufactured to its specifications. The city is looking for businesses and associations that would like to become sponsors.
Several associations and retailers have already responded to the call. In all, 5,000 bags are being manufactured for distribution to the Two Mountains population during Horticultural Days next May 30 and 31. “These bags are the symbol of a project by a community,” said Mayor Marc Lauzon. “Seeing our retailers and associations joining us in this effort can only encourage participation by the rest of the population.”
Gathering speed
Just as retailers and associations have decided to take up the offer to join in the project, the city says the movement is gathering needed speed in order for it to be a success. Among the businesses that are extending their support are Marché IGA Crevier, the Caisse Desjardins Saint-Eustache/Deux Montagnes (both major sponsors of re-usable bags), the 5th Grand Moulin Scouts, the Maison des jeunes, and the Two Mountains Lions Club. Also involved are Boni Soir Crevier, entreprises sanitaires FA, Dépanneur Voisin, and the Dairy Queen Deux-Montagnes.
According to the city, many residents are already adopting the idea of re-usable bags and are happy to go along with the initiative. The city is also convinced that residents in surrounding areas will decide to encourage this environmental effort by buying from Two Mountains stores. “Ecological consciousness is growing everywhere, and we believe that people want to support environmental efforts,” said Councillor Sylvain Sauvageau, who chairs the environmental commission on city council. “It is with small gestures that we hope to influence other cities to join the movement.”
Bags company hired
Determined that the project should be handled in a well-organized way, the city hired a company known as Critéria to manufacture the bags. Located in Quebec, and applying equitable values through the use of well-documented substances for its products, Critéria also wanted to associate itself with the city and is making its bags available at lower cost. The city also commissioned a special logo for the bags program, which is available from city hall upon request.
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