Students at the York School have taken several initiatives this year to reduce our footprints on the planet. They feel that people in Toronto can make a difference by tackling the issue of plastic bags.
Plastic bags take 1000 years to break down, release hazardous chemicals into the environment and are a danger to animals that confuse them for food. Over a year ago, San Francisco passed a ban on petroleum-based plastic bags in supermarkets and chain drug stores These stores are now required to use either compostable bags, made from corn starch or other natural sources, recyclable paper bags, made from post-consumer materials, or sell reusable cloth bags. Quebec's provincial government is also exploring a new tax to target the extravagant use of plastic shopping bags.
We believe that Toronto has ability to take the same measures that other cities and countries have taken to keep plastic bags out of our environment.
We are trying to collect 1000 signatures so we can present our case at City Hall. Please sign below if you agree with us. Thanks for your contribution on making Toronto a greener city :))
Quebec's tax initiative:
http://media.www.thestrand.ca/media/storage/paper404/news/2007/09/20/News/Quebec.Weighs.Tax.On.Plastic.Bags-2984562.shtmlSan Francisco's ban on plastic bags:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/03/28/MNGDROT5QN1.DTLOther countries' initiatives around the world:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/04/080404-plastic-bags.html 