A Montreal bylaw banning the use of single-use plastic items goes into effect on Tuesday. Glasses, stir sticks, straws and utensils are among the items that will be prohibited.
The ban also applies to polystyrene or compostable plastic products, whether used on-site in restaurants or for take-out orders, with the sole exception of trays for raw meat and fish.
The by-law was adopted 18 months ago and applies to the 19 boroughs of the City of Montreal. Officials estimate that some 8,400 businesses are affected. There are some exceptions, including for non-profit groups, such as charities, and organizations that deliver meals to vulnerable people.
Inspectors will be able to give a warning during the first visit, but from the second offense, traders are exposed to fines ranging from $400 to $4,000.
Marie-Andrée Mauger, member of the city’s executive committee responsible for the ecological transition, indicates that Montreal will show a certain indulgence to allow merchants to sell their older stocks.
Mme Mauger told reporters last week that the city’s only landfill would reach capacity in 2029, so there was no option but to reduce waste at source. “We have to respect the limits of ecosystems. If everyone lived like us in Montreal, it would take four planets to support the rate at which we consume resources. »
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