Canada declares plastics toxic, paving the way for restrictions
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Re: Canada declares plastics toxic, paving the way for restrictions
#2The focus here is on the environment. However, plastic is linked to many health issues as well.
Re: Canada declares plastics toxic, paving the way for restrictions
#3The canadian government is big into the business of making these kind of "declarations" these days, so our PM can demonstrate to everyone how progressive he is.
Although I don't think Mother Jones is a legitimate news source, so would be careful about taking anything in the article at face value.
Re: Canada declares plastics toxic, paving the way for restrictions
#4The canadian government is big into the business of making these kind of "declarations" these days, so our PM can demonstrate to everyone how progressive he is. Although I don't think Mother Jones is a legitimate news source, so would be careful about taking anything in the article at face value.
Why do you find Mother Jones to be an illegitimate news source?
Re: Canada declares plastics toxic, paving the way for restrictions
#5The canadian government is big into the business of making these kind of "declarations" these days, so our PM can demonstrate to everyone how progressive he is. Although I don't think Mother Jones is a legitimate news source, so would be careful about taking anything in the article at face value.
> so our PM can demonstrate to everyone how progressive he is.
Maybe he should focus on providing vaccines instead (Canada's vaccination rate sits at barely 4% while the US is at 38%) [0] and stop pushing pipelines to export some of the most environmentally destructive oil on the planet [1].
[0] https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/world/covid-vaccina...
[1] https://news.yahoo.com/trudeau-stresses-disappointment-keyst...
Re: Canada declares plastics toxic, paving the way for restrictions
#6Great. Regulation and reduction of plastic production is long overdue.
There are some places where it makes sense to use plastic, but we're far, far overproducing the stuff because it's convenient.
It's fantastically difficult to recycle in practice, burning it produces toxic smoke and carbon emissions, and putting it into the waste stream results in a bunch of it getting dropped on the sides of roadways.
Re: Canada declares plastics toxic, paving the way for restrictions
#7The focus here is on the environment. However, plastic is linked to many health issues as well.
Plastic packaging makes hygienic food more accessible as an effective and cheap barrier to pathogens, incoming and outgoing. Such public health interests should be balanced against their toxicity. It's easier for wealthier people to substitute with restaurants, servants and higher quality materials. So a general plastic ban would amount to a regressive tax on sanitary food.
Re: Canada declares plastics toxic, paving the way for restrictions
#8Related: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1897203267988 holds an interview on the topic by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Re: Canada declares plastics toxic, paving the way for restrictions
#9If there are restrictions, I hope they target major microplastic sources like tires and textiles, rather than easily scapegoated but very minor sources, like plastic bags and drinking straws. Based on precedent, I am not holding my breath, but I hope so.
Re: Canada declares plastics toxic, paving the way for restrictions
#10The canadian government is big into the business of making these kind of "declarations" these days, so our PM can demonstrate to everyone how progressive he is. Although I don't think Mother Jones is a legitimate news source, so would be careful about taking anything in the article at face value.
> Although I don't think Mother Jones is a legitimate news source
I'm calling this out.
Does Mother Jones have an agenda? Absolutely.
However, unlike some "news" sources, their reporting of actual facts is generally correct.