Two Towns, One Word: Plastic

Two small Canadian communities may become North American leaders in the drive to eliminate plastic bags from their waste streams.

2 minute read

March 23, 2007, 9:00 AM PDT

By Michael Dudley


"The race is on to become the first town in North America to ban plastic bags, and two small Canadian communities are leading the charge.

Leaf Rapids, in northern Manitoba, is already trumpeting itself the winner, thanks to a bylaw facing the final vote next week.

But the British Columbia mountain town of Rossland is hot on the Manitoba community's heels, surfing what the mayor says is just the crest of a national anti-plastic wave.

It will all be decided on Monday, when Leaf Rapids casts its final vote on local bylaw 462 and Rossland decides whether to join a local delegation's conservation crusade.

Five thousand reusable bags are ready to be handed out on April 2, when Leaf Rapids is scheduled to implement the plan that's been in process since September.

Under the proposal, no retailers in the town situated 975 kilometres north of Winnipeg - which already charges a three-cent levy for plastic shopping bags - will be allowed to sell or give away plastic shopping bags. Mr. Ryan said 50,000 plastic bags will be eliminated in the first year alone.

On the same day over in B.C., the Rossland council looks likely to back a voluntary ban on single-use bags.

The California-based Earth Resource Foundation said that if both votes are approved, the towns will end up streets ahead of their U.S. counterparts.

The closest to such a move in the United States is a proposal to ban plastic bags in San Francisco grocery stores, which will be put to the vote Thursday, ERF founder Stephanie Barger said."

Thursday, March 22, 2007 in The Globe & Mail

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Aerial view of single-family homes with swimming pools in San Diego, California.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule

The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

March 9, 2025 - Axios

Canadian flag in foreground with blurred Canadian Parliament building in background in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Has President Trump Met His Match?

Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.

March 11, 2025 - Toronto Star

Close-up of green ULEZ sign in London, UK.

Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution

Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.

March 10, 2025 - Smart Cities World

Tents set up by unhoused people under freeway overpass in San Jose, California with American flag above them.

San Jose Mayor Takes Dual Approach to Unsheltered Homeless Population

In a commentary published in The Mercury News, Mayor Matt Mahan describes a shelter and law enforcement approach to ending targeted homeless encampments within Northern California's largest city.

March 14 - The Mercury News

Blue Atlanta streetcar on street in downtown Atlanta, Georgia.

Atlanta Changes Beltline Rail Plan

City officials say they are committed to building rail connections, but are nixing a prior plan to extend the streetcar network.

March 14 - Saporta Report

New York City city hall building.

Are Black Mayors Being Pushed Out of Office?

The mayors of New York, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh all stand to lose their seats in the coming weeks. They also all happen to be Black.

March 14 - Governing

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.