Mayor Brian Saunderson hopes to get council support for a ban on single-use plastic he introduced at last night’s council meeting.
The mayor brought up the ban as a notice of motion, which means council will have a chance to vote on the matter at the next council meeting (July 22).
The ban would apply to all single-use plastics in municipal facilities. Saunderson said he wants to start with the town to lead the way for other businesses, organizations, and even individuals in Collingwood to follow suit.
Saunderson brought the idea from the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Cities Initiative annual general meeting. He is part of the organization as mayor of a municipality located on the shore of one of the Great Lakes.
The organization was established to help protect the Great Lakes, and includes leaders from Canada and the US.
“These are the largest freshwater reserves in the world,” said Saunderson. “There’s plastic in our Great Lakes … the plastic particles break down … they find their way into our food chain, killing wildlife and making it inedible for us.”
The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Cities Initiative passed six resolutions at the annual general meeting, all centred around stewardship of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway through management of invasive species and preventing contamination in the water - whether that’s stormwater runoff or the problem of plastics.
Saunderson said the Initiative is urging member municipalities to implement a ban on single-use plastics in an effort to protect the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway.
“It’s a very big concern and it’s one I think we can address quite simply through responsible stewardship,” said Saunderson.
Earlier this spring, Director of Parks, Recreation, and Culture Dean Collver announced the Greener Collingwood plan to undertake stewardship initiatives such as recycling and compost programs for town facilities, and a reduction in single-use plastics.
The town also purchased two electric Zambonis as well as electric hybrid vehicles for use by town staff for town business.
The plastics ban, if approved by council, will be in place for six months for municipally-owned facilities, and staff will report back to council on the progress and with recommendations on implementations for the future.
