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Northern Ontario

Ban on single-use plastic bags take effect in the Sault this week

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The Sault will soon ban plastic bags On Nov. 15, a by-law prohibiting businesses from giving out single use plastic bags will take affect in Sault Ste. Marie.

The Sault’s ban on single-use plastic is fast approaching.

On Nov. 15, a bylaw passed by city council this summer will come into effect, banning the use of plastic checkout bags and plastic bags used for takeout food.

David Nicholson owns Homespun Treasures and told CTV news he is looking to use up his plastic bag supply before that time.

“We’re still using plastic bags, we want to try and get rid of as many as we can until we have to use paper. We also have paper bags on order.”

Though in favour of the ban on plastic bags, Just Cozy store manager, Terry McClocklin, said she believes more needs to be done.

“The real problem is the producers, like the people that make the product and ship it to the store. For me, for instance, (I filled) 6 garbage bags, which are also plastic with plastic to the garbage yesterday. And that’s just one store, imagine all the stores in this mall who are doing the same thing.”

Nicholson agrees that the ban on plastic bags is only a small part of the larger puzzle.

“If you think of all the situations in grocery stores where plastic seems to be so essential... I sometimes wonder if we’re picking on an easy fix,” he added.

The next phase of the bylaw will see plastic cutlery prohibited on Feb. 8.

18-year-old Trevor Sawyer said that it is important that these steps are taken for the good of the planet.

“Yeah the paper straws get a bit soggy, but you’ll learn to live with it. And to know that it’s going to a better cause it makes me feel a lot better and it should make everyone else who turns to paper a lot better too.”

Beginning Aug. 8, the city will give out fines of $500 to businesses that don't comply, to a maximum of $10,000 amounting from the daily fines.

For more information on the single-use plastics ban bylaw, click here.