Stemming the Tide of Plastic

Yesterday our plan was to paddle on the Salmon River but the strong breeze and wind gusts convinced us to visit Lodge Point in Sandbanks Provincial Park for a ramble instead. It certainly wasn't a hardship to go with Plan B. With wind there are waves, a spectacular gift of sight and sound. Sadly, the water level remains destructively high in Lake Ontario and one beach has all but disappeared. The high water mark is a jumble of litter, including a lot of plastic. We're told that plastic has become a terrible problem in our oceans but we saw, first hand, that the same is true for one of our Great Lakes.

I was encouraged that the federal government in Canada announced a ban on single use plastics by 2021, which may be an unattainable goal, but a good one. The cynic in me wonders if this a response to proposals in the environmental plans of both the Green Party and the NDP. In some respects the motivation doesn't matter. It's the implementation which is important.



1963

We've talked a lot as a couple about the proliferation of plastics since our childhoods in the late 50's and 60's. We grew up in a world of paper bags and sandwiches in waxed paper and tiny wooden spoons and stir sticks. Oh, and actual cutlery and crockery. Still, the use of plastics was on the rise, And t

here's no point in insisting that was an ideal time -- Ruth commented recently about the disturbing amount of roadside litter when we were young and communities didn't organize Trash Bash clean-ups. Still, we have to do better and I'm pleased to see the feds making an effort. Let's also remember that parties such as the Greens have been "salt and light" in nudging us toward positive change. Hey, I had to work in a biblical metaphor!



Theo Moudakis Toronto Star