LCBO cut the use of more than 80 million bags a year, and from now on, the liquor store customers will be given the option of paper bags or cardboard boxes as soon as the last bags in the stores run out.

David Caplan, minister of public infrastructure renewal, and John Gerretsen, minister of the environment, welcomed the decision.

“The decision to drop plastic shopping bags but keep paper bags at LCBO outlets is a political decision, not a decision based on science,” said Serge Lavoie, president and CEO of the CPIA in a release.

 

“Once people understand that plastic bags are 100 per cent recyclable and are a better environmental choice than paper, they’ll make informed decisions based on fact.”

Caplan is challenging other retailers to do the same. The plastic ban movement though is growing in Ontario and across North America. Leaf Rapids in Manitoba has completely banned retailers from using the bags.

The Canadian Plastics Industry Association says that this ban is unneeded. Of course they'd say so - who wants to lose their business?