Visitors to Amherstburg's Libro Centre will not be seeing plastic straws on the premises before long.
Amherstburg Town Council voted Tuesday night to stop using single-use plastic straws and stir sticks at the Libro Centre, which is city-owned and operated. The vote followed a presentation given by two Anderdon Public School students who argued that the plastics not only harm the environment but also produce an unnecessary financial burden.
The town is the first in Essex County to institute a single-use plastics ban.
Mayor Aldo DiCarlo told BlackburnNewsWindsor.com that it's something he would not mind seeing neighbouring municipalities consider as well.
"Since it is environmental and we are all trying to save the planet, so to speak, it can't be done if only one of us is doing it," said DiCarlo. "In that regard, then yeah, I would hope that everybody starts doing something to take better care of the earth."
Communities across North America have begun to stop using plastic objects. In Ontario, NDP MPP Ian Arthur has introduced a private members’ bill to ban things like plastic shopping bags, plastic straws, and plastic coffee cup lids. Environment Minister Rod Phillips has said the Ford government is open to a ban, having released a discussion paper on waste management. Public commenting on that paper recently closed.
DiCarlo said despite plastic bans becoming more commonplace, there were people opposed to the idea.
"I've heard from both sides of the issue, as I do with all issues," said DiCarlo. "There are those who are adamant that they should have the right to use plastic bags if they want to, and then there are those who are very concerned about the environment."
The bill introduced by MPP Arthur would ban the items listed above by 2020, with a total single-use plastics ban in place by 2025.
-With files from Adelle Loiselle