Skip to content

Letters: We need to stop using so much plastic

People need to realize all the over packaging and take out containers are harmful to us and the planet. 
plastic bags ban delta, bc
The City of Delta two years ago took steps to reduce the use of single-use plastic items at civic facilities, but didn’t go so far as to introduce a bylaw to ban plastic bags.

Editor:

A recent letter writer thinks the plastic bag ban is “ridiculous.”

They justified that by stating all the plastic we use in other areas like packaging textiles etc. So, we should just continue on this path I guess?

Well, we do need to stop using so much plastic and it is a start. 

Canada uses approximately 15 billon plastic bags per year and less than 11 per cent of all plastics are recycled (according to environment defence.ca).

I would love to see disposable coffee/drink cups banned. There is no reason for anyone to use these. I’ve had a metal coffee cup/thermos for years. 

Not sure how old the letter writer is, but I remember when all grocery stores used thick paper bags. That’s what our family used for garbage bags, worked great. Also most products were not in layers of plastic like they are now.

Our family moved from Canada to Brussels, Belgium in 1972. We learned that all households there had several net shopping bags and you took them to the store, no bags were given. You could also buy “frites” at a kiosk in every neighbourhood, you brought your own pot or they wrapped them in newspaper. They were way ahead of us even back then.

People need to realize all the over packaging and take out containers are harmful to us and the planet. 

M. Cheney