“Co-ops as a whole have seen a major shift recently to support sustainability efforts. We felt that removing single-use plastic bags from our locations ahead of the ban was a positive step in supporting those efforts. Eliminating bags from our stores will help keep thousands of them from ending up in our local landfills.”
For those who reuse the plastic shopping bags for other jobs, like lining garbage pails, different options will have to be found.
According to the Government of Canada, up to 15 million plastic checkout bags are used in the country every year, along with 16 million plastic straws. They state that single use plastics make up the majority of shoreline plastic litter in the country. Along with plastic bags, the ban, when fully implemented, would include most plastic straws, cutlery, certain foodservice items and ring carriers. According to the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, these moves are important for the country.
“We promised Canadians we would deliver a ban on single-use plastics,” Guilbeault said when the ban was announced on June 20. “Today, that’s exactly what we’ve done. By the end of the year, you won’t be able to manufacture or import these harmful plastics. After that, businesses will begin offering the sustainable solutions Canadians want, whether that’s paper straws or reusable bags. With these new regulations, we’re taking a historic step forward in reducing plastic pollution, and keeping our communities and the places we love clean.”
As for the other items like cutlery and containers, Rushing said customers would likely see them disappear by December 2023. As the manufacture and import of them will be stopped by the end of this year, their availability will probably diminish.
Over in nearby Pembina Co-op, Becky Switzer said the transition away from single use plastics has begun throughout their retail. Communications have focused on the food stores in Souris and Crystal City, by encouraging the purchase of reusable bags at those locations. Right now they are charging five cents per plastic bag, with that money going back into the community. Work will continue.
“While much progress has been made to reduce plastic use, through our re-usable bag campaign, and our changes to in-store packaging, more work is needed,” Switzer stated. “Customers can continue to expect changes at Pembina Co-op over the next year, which will include 100% elimination of single-use plastic bags by December 2023.  Building sustainable communities together.”
In Boundary, Rushing said if your reusable bags somehow do not make it on your shopping trip, there are options.
“For those who forget to bring their reusable bags or grocery totes, we do carry a healthy supply in-store for purchase,” stated Rushing. “We also have paper bags available for purchase. But if one wishes to just load everything in the trunk of their car without, that’s fine too.”
Boundary Co-op operates stores in Boissevain, Deloraine, Killarney, Waskada and Hartney.

by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff