Canada will start tracking the lifecycle of plastics

When the federal government implements its ban on a list of single-use plastics by the end of next year, it will start tracking the lifecycle of the plastics it will allow and regulate symbols on those products.

Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault announced the next steps in the government’s plan to cut plastic waste and protect the environment on Monday.

The public, stakeholders, and partners have until October 7 to comment on the new rules and registry, and the government hopes to publish draft regulations by the middle of next year.

Plastic producers will report how much plastic product they put on the Canadian market and how they are diverted from landfills. The registry would help it collect data on the life cycle of plastics.

New regulations would also require a minimum level of recycled plastics in some products.

It would also prohibit companies from using the chasing arrows symbol unless 80 per cent of Canadians can recycle them.

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