It’s a no-go for a plastic bag ban in St. Albert, after city councillors this week decided to instead focus on a reduction strategy.
For a city that has proudly touted its efforts to eliminate waste, the move may surprise staunch environmentalists, but it is one that will likely garner less opposition from already frustrated St. Albertans who are doing their part to curb the amount of garbage being sent to the landfill.
With the continuing confusion surrounding the new blue bag recycling rules implemented in November, emphasizing reduction of single-use plastic bags rather than imposing an outright ban is the better choice. It strikes a balance by encouraging residents to cut back instead of forcing them into a course of action they may not agree with.
Coun. Wes Brodhead’s push this past week to have city administration conduct more research into a plan for reduction – the first R in the all-too-familiar “reduce, reuse, recycle” mantra – got the backing from his colleagues at Monday’s governance, priorities and finance committee meeting.
Encouraging the reduction of plastic bags is sure to go over better than a ban at a time when residents are finding it difficult to adhere to recent blue bag rule changes. Those changes were implemented after China and other overseas processors toughened the purity standards for foreign recyclables in late 2017.
In letters to the Gazette and posts on social media over the past few months, many residents have been expressing their ongoing frustration with the city's crackdown on materials allowed in blue bags. Glass bottles and jars, as well as single-use soft plastics, including clamshell containers, are among the items that have been prohibited since Nov. 1. Bags that don’t pass inspection are often being left on the street, leaving residents committed to a green lifestyle to wonder why.
The changes to the city's blue bag program mark a departure from St. Albert's well-established commitment to environmental stewardship. Waste that once crossed the ocean to China now has nowhere to go except to the ever-growing landfill.
As landfill space shrinks and items that were once recyclable start to pile up in the garbage, the city’s leaders must take off their blinders and create more enticing ways for St. Albertans to cut down on the amount of trash they dispose of on a daily basis.
While Brodhead called the reduction strategy for plastic bags a good starting point – and we agree the retreat from a possible plastic bag ban is warranted – the plan is limited in scope. Focusing on plastic bags is a narrow and myopic approach to a strategy that should encompass the full spectrum of waste.
Over the years, cities have often put emphasis on two of the three Rs: reuse and recycle. Reduction is rarely tackled with the same robust energy.
St. Albert has the opportunity to take the lead on reducing all waste instead of fixating on one small portion. We hope they do not squander it.
Editorials are the consensus view of the St. Albert Gazette's editorial board.
