Re: Letter to the editor, Time for Oakville to ban disposable plastic bags, Oakville Beaver, May 2

If the poor little plastic shopping bag could sue for defamation against false and misleading accusations, the letter to the editor calling for a ban on bags would prompt it. Whatever decisions we make related to the environment or the banning of any product, should be based on fact and good science, not bad  information.  

We would like to start to set the record straight. First, plastic shopping bags are not toxic and lead, mercury and cadmium are not used in their manufacture as stated by the writer of this letter. Plastic shopping bags in fact are made from natural gas, the same natural gas, we promote as clean energy.  

Second, the claim that the bags are a serious litter item contaminating our soil and lakes is also not true in Canada. Litter audit after litter audit from coast to coast shows that plastic shopping bags are a very small part of litter; usually less than one half of one percent.

Third, as to the assertion that plastic shopping bags are not a boon to the environment and society, we would ask this reader to go to the Recyc Quebec website and view their scientific evaluation completed last November on plastic shopping bags. This evaluation declared these bags one of the most environmentally-friendly carry bag options second to only reusable bags.

And finally, and perhaps most important, the trend across North America is  recycling, which is why New York City just passed a by-law mandating in-store recycling for most retailers. Residents in Halton Region also now have the option to recycle their bags at local stores. All they have to do is go on the www.myplasticbags.ca website and find out which stores in their community offer an in-store take-back program.

Cathy Cirko
Vice President
Canadian Plastics Industry Association