Single-use plastic bags are detrimental to the environment and take more than 500 years to decompose, which is why city council’s youth advisory committee wants the municipality to adopt BioBags.
BioBags are a compostable alternative to plastic bags and are nearly identical in function, but break down more easily in the soil, members of the committee told city council on June 24 during the regular council meeting. BioBags are constructed of MaterBi, a resin made from plants, compostable polymers, and vegetable oils. They take 45 days to decompose when in soil or sunlight.
“After using a BioBag, you have two options,” explained Meagan Barclay, a student at Cornerstone Christian School. “You can put it in your compost bin, where it will break down into nutrient-rich fertilizer, or (you can) toss it in your garbage can, where it will be taken to a landfill and break down there.
“Either way, the bag leaves behind helpful soil instead of dangerous toxins.”
The main manufacturer of BioBags resides in San Leandro, Calif., although the bags are also manufactured in countries such as Estonia and Thailand.
Between 500 billion and one trillion plastic bags are consumed each year worldwide, which means one million are used every minute of the day, said Jordan Boulton of Central Collegiate. Only one out of every 200 plastic bags — or about five per cent — are recycled.
Furthermore, the average grocery store in Canada sells 200 bags per hour, while Environment and Climate Change Canada says Canadians throw away more than 34 million plastic bags every day, Boulton continued. Most plastic bags end up in the landfill and can take centuries to decompose.
The federal government has said it intends to ban single-use plastics by 2021.
“The way we deal with single-use plastic in our society has already begun to change,” said Rachel Butt, committee chair and youth-at-large. She pointed out city council has already begun discussing this issue, while it is also being discussed across the world.
“We have the opportunity to join the forefront of this movement and examine the alternatives and solutions we need for this global shift to take place,” Butt continued. “Environmental stewardship is everyone’s responsibility … Let’s be the model of how to do this right. Let’s be leaders of change.”
Municipalities that have adopted BioBags and that have had success with them include Bethal, Ala.; Norwalk, Conn.; Lynn, Mass.; Santa Fe, New Mexico; New York, N.Y.; Portland, Ore.; and San Francisco, Calif.
“I am very proud of you,” said Mayor Fraser Tolmie, who represents city council on the committee.
The presentation was “very, very good,” agreed Coun. Dawn Luhning. She pointed out council passed a motion to have city administration look into banning single-use plastic bags from the community. Administration will take the youth committee’s presentation and the information within it and investigate if the committee’s suggestions are possible.
