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55% Residents Oppose Proposed Ban on Plastic Shopping Bags

The majority of residents belonging to the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador have opposed ban on plastic shopping bags. This is in accordance with the findings of a random live-telephonic survey carried out by the research and strategy firm Campaign Research Inc. on behalf of the trade body Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA).

According to the survey, 55% opposed to banning plastic shopping bags, citing that earlier studies carried out by the governments of Europe and Canada have proved that plastic bags are more environment-friendly than other alternatives. They noted that the proposal to promote the use of paper bags would ultimately turn out to be anti-environmental. The survey found that 81% of Newfoundland and Labrador residents use reusable bags while shopping. Also, 63% preferred to continue re-using plastic bags to manage household waste.

Joe Hruska, Vice President, Sustainability, CPIA stated that the survey clearly shows that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians do not want a ban on plastic shopping bags. Banning plastic bags and adding paper alternatives will only harm the island’s overall ecosystem through generation of seven times more carbon, he added.

It must be noted that a similar survey conducted by the provincial government had indicated that a ban on plastic bags is not necessary and that carbon-intensive paper bag is one of the worst available alternatives. Only one-tenth of the respondents of the government survey supported paper bags.