OTTAWA — Canada is throwing its support behind a push for a global treaty to tackle plastic production and garbage.
Negotiations to create such an agreement are the key feature at the United Nations Environmental Assembly in Kenya this week.
Canada and Ghana spent the last several weeks helping to facilitate the preparatory talks leading into the assembly to develop the basics of a resolution that will go to a vote on Wednesday.
Because of that role, Canada had to stay neutral on the resolution until now but Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says Canada does want a global, legally binding agreement that addresses plastics, from production and design right through to what happens to the waste.
Plastic recycling is still the exception rather than the norm and 8.8 million tonnes of plastic ends up in the oceans every year, the equivalent of a garbage truck full of plastic dumped every minute.
Canada is already aiming for zero plastic waste by 2030 including a plan to ban some single-use plastics like grocery bags, straws and Styrofoam containers by the end of this year.
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