Plastic ban in Saskatoon? City councillor tests feedback

A Saskatoon city councillor is starting the conversation in the Bridge City about the possibility of banning single-use plastic items.

Ward 6 representative Cynthia Block posed a question on Twitter Wednesday, asking followers what they thought of putting “a stop to single-use plastics.”

The social media survey ended up with 156 responses, with 82 per cent of people supporting the end of disposable plastics.

Single-use plastics encompass a wide variety of items, including: plastic grocery bags, plastic cutlery, straws and some takeout containers.

In an interview with 650 CKOM, Block said she started mulling the question of banning single-use plastics after bags were banned from Saskatoon’s blue bin program.

She said residents started contacting her after the removal of the bags from recycling, suggesting an overall ban could be useful.

“It just made me wonder how people were really feeling about this,” she said. “It appears to be an issue where there is some sort of consensus that council should be looking at more.”

Block noted that Saskatoon residents typically “want to do the right thing” when it comes to waste sustainability in the city.

“Most people don’t want to waste resources,” she said, noting single-use plastics are taking up space in the city’s landfill. “Hopefully we have an opportunity to look at this and find an outcome where we can be better.”

She said some feedback on the issue had people suggesting a tax on single-use plastics instead of an outright ban. However, the city doesn’t have the power to levy a new tax.

Despite starting the conversation, Block wouldn’t commit to bringing a motion to city council that would enact a product ban.

“I haven’t decided that yet,” she said.

— With files from 650 CKOM’s Keenan Sorokan.