With the release of the federal Liberals’ ban of single-use plastics coming into the limelight, isn’t it high time that we addressed the effects of this properly in our community?
The majority of restaurants and shops in Whistler started phasing out plastic straws, bags, cutlery and take-away containers a long time ago. They have been replaced by PLA, or plant plastics as they are also known. Way to go, Whistler, what a great start!
What’s not so great is that these products, once they have been taken from the restaurants or shops, then go directly into regular bins in the streets. The customers are eating at our lovely parks and new outdoor seating areas and then throwing the biodegradable packaging into a regular bin.
This in turn is sent to landfills. Landfills are a dry, moisture-free environment. This packaging will not break down in this environment, thus making it nearly as bad as fossil-fuel plastics.
With COVID-19 already being a burden on the businesses around the country and in Whistler, it’s heartbreaking to see the hard work and changes they are making just getting thrown in the trash.
There have long been promises from the municipal government to put in organics’ bins around the village next to the regular and recycling bins, but nothing has ever come to fruition, albeit with the pilot project with few compost bins scattered here and there.
The organics’ disposal ban and tariffs were first introduced in 2014; that is a six- year window for the changes to be made. All restaurants were made to comply, but the municipality has not held itself responsible for this.
As we’ve geared towards using more disposable products than ever before due to COVID-19, this needs to be addressed promptly. Our world is in need and we need to take responsibility.
Rorey Riley-Gillespie // Whistler
