Ban on Retail Plastic Bags Coming into Effect in October

  • Environment, Climate Change and Municipalities

September 2, 2020

The Honourable Derek Bennett, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Municipalities, today reminded the public that effective October 1, 2020, there will be provincial ban on the distribution of retail plastic bags.

In April 2019, the Provincial Government amended the Environmental Protection Act and began drafting regulations to ban the distribution of retail plastic bags. Details about the regulations, including exemptions, can be found in the “Learn More” section below.

The cost of alternative bags, such as reusable bags and paper bags, customers may wish to purchase will be at the discretion of the individual business. Consumers using their own reusable bags are encouraged to wash them frequently.

Over the last year, residents, businesses, governments and organizations have been actively decreasing the amount of plastic waste created by single use plastic bags and working to put alternatives in place. Newfoundland and Labrador will be the second province to implement such a ban. This builds on the Province’s ongoing work with the Council on the Zero Plastic Waste Strategy as part of the Ocean Plastics Charter.

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“Protecting the environment for future generations is a priority for our government. Banning the distribution and use of retail plastic bags protects the environment and improves the waste management system in our province. It is encouraging to see many communities, businesses and residents being proactive and switching to reusable shopping bags. I look forward to this ban being implemented and us all doing our part to reduce plastic waste.”
Honourable Derek Bennett
Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Municipalities

Learn more
Plastic Bag Regulations

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Media contact
Lynn Robinson
Environment, Climate Change and Municipalities
709-729-5449, 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca 

BACKGROUNDER

 Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Will plastic bags still be provided at the grocery store for the purchase of meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, etc.?

The ban of single-use retail plastic bags does not apply to bags used to:

  • Package meat, poultry or fish, whether pre-packaged or not;
  • Package fruit, vegetables, candy, grains, nuts and other loose bulk food items;
  • Wrap flowers or potted plants;
  • Protect prepared foods or bakery goods that are not pre-packaged;
  • Transport live fish;
  • Protect newspapers or printed material left at a person’s residence or place of business;
  • Protect clothes after professional laundering or dry cleaning; or
  • Protect used tires taken off vehicles and placed in a person’s vehicle.
  1. While COVID-19 cases are low in this province, what about retailers and consumers who remain concerned about bringing reusable bags into grocery and retail store as they may carry the COVID-19 virus?

Consumers are asked to wash their reusable bags after each use at a grocery or retail store. They are also asked to follow the directions of the grocery and retail stories regarding packing of purchases themselves into reusable bags.

Health Canada has not limited the use of reusable bags due to COVID-19, and as us, recommends to bring clean reusable bags when shopping.
www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/food-safety/covid19.html

  1. Will customers be charged for paper bags provided by a business?

The cost of alternatives to retail plastic bags, such as paper bags, offered to customers will be at the discretion of the individual business.

  1. What would be considered a reusable bag?

Under the Plastic Retail Bag Regulations, a reusable bag means is primarily made of cloth or washable fabric, and is designed and manufactured to be capable of at least 100 uses.

  1. If an individual, does not wish to use a bag at all, will they be obligated to purchase a reusable or paper bag at the store?

A consumer is not obligated to purchase a reusable or paper bag at the business to transport their purchased products.

2020 09 02 9:25 am