Canada’s ban on single-use plastics will take a major step forward next week as the federal government moves towards its goal of reducing plastic pollution and harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

As of Dec. 20, plastic products like checkout bags, cutlery and takeout containers cannot be manufactured and imported in Canada. Businesses will have another year before they have to stop selling the items.

Here’s a look at what products will be banned and when:

BANNED ITEMS AND TIMELINES

Many Canadian businesses, municipalities, and provinces have already banned certain single-use plastic items like plastic bags, but the federal ban sets a standard across the country.

Canada is taking a phased approach to the ban so businesses have time transition.

Manufacturing and import of the following single-use plastic items, with some exceptions, will be prohibited in Canada as of Dec. 20:

  • Checkout bags
  • Cutlery like knives, forks, spoons and chopsticks
  • Foodservice ware like takeout containers and cups for prepared foods and drinks
  • Stir sticks
  • Straws

Sale of those items – including offering the items to customers for free– will be prohibited as of Dec. 20, 2023, and export of the products will be banned on Dec. 20, 2025.

Single-use plastic ring carriers for beverages will be banned on June 20, 2023, with sale of the items prohibited as June 20, 2024, on the same date that sale of flexible straws packaged with beverage containers will also be banned.

Export of all the affected items will prohibited on Dec. 20, 2025.

ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTS

The federal government has outlined some alternatives to the banned products, including:

  • Reusable shopping bags and bins
  • Wood or bamboo cutlery
  • Glass, stainless steel, silicone or recyclable plastic takeout containers
  • Metal, sugar cane or wood stir sticks
  • Paper, glass or metal straws

The federal guidance document for businesses makes other suggestions to reduce the need for single-use plastics like charging a fee for single-use cutlery, encouraging guests to bring reusable containers and switching to beverage containers that don’t require straws.

REACTION

The restaurant industry has argued that it is being targeted by the regulations and said the new rules are coming on too fast, despite a delay in the regulations being finalized.

Industry group Restaurants Canada said in June that the ban would put pressure on restaurants that are still recovering from the pandemic, as many people still prefer takeout and delivery over dining in, and raised concerns about the availability and cost of sustainable alternatives.

A coalition of plastic producers is also challenging the ban in court.

Environmental groups have said they support the measure but highlighted the need for further steps, with the ban expected to only cover a small fraction of Canada’s plastic waste. Greenpeace Canada called on the government to “shift into high gear by expanding the ban list and cutting overall plastic production.”