The Yukon legislature has approved a motion that will see the government study the elimination of single-use plastic.

Wednesday’s debate centred on NDP MLA Kate White’s motion calling on the government to take immediate steps to eliminate single-use plastic.

The debate took place mere days after the European Parliament voted to ban a wide-range of single-use plastic items as early as 2021.

“Single-use plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose,” said White. 

“The amount of plastic waste going into our landfills is costing governments, and the impact of plastic pollution on our wilderness and our oceans is well-known – it’s time for government to act.”

She warned that the government must make its words meaningful.

“Adopting a motion is one thing – putting it into action is another and without political will, nothing will change.”

NDP Leader Liz Hanson urged the government to make a firm commitment to a ban accompanied by a clear timeline.

“There’s no reason this government can’t announce a ban on single-use plastic with a transition period of one or two years to work with industry to implement the change,” she said. “It takes political courage, but if the European Union can do it on such a large scale, there’s no reason we can’t do it in Yukon.”

The Liberals amended the motion to urge the government to work toward a ban, with no specific timeline.