Huron County, Ontario – As the Minister of Environment and Climate Change has recently announced plans to achieve national zero plastic waste by 2030, the County of Huron, too, is pleased to launch a corporate-wide Single-Use Item Reduction Strategy, with the goal of improving sustainability within the corporation.
Single-use or disposable items are products and materials that are designed to be used once and then thrown away, including plastic straws and cutlery, disposable beverage cups, plastic shopping bags and takeout containers. Even though these items seem affordable and convenient, their continued daily use can result in the generation of more waste, creating a negative impact on the environment.
The Single-Use Item Reduction Strategy will be used as a guideline to help reduce the purchase, use, and disposal of single-use items at the organizational level, unless it is deemed necessary for the health and safety of staff and the community to use these items. By reducing single-use items, employees across all County of Huron departments will help to minimize the County’s environmental impact and improve the sustainability of the corporation.
“With the roll out of this strategy, our aim as a community leader is encouraging staff across all departments to continue taking action and help improve the environmental sustainability of not only our corporation, but the world and communities we’re living in,” says Warden Jim Ginn.
When there exists a feasible alternative, the County of Huron will do its part to eliminate the unnecessary use of single-use items from corporate operations and services by using more environmentally sustainable options, replacing single-use items with reusable or recyclable alternatives, and when unavoidable, minimizing the use of single-use items and ensuring proper disposal.
For more information on the County of Huron’s Single-Use Item Reduction Strategy, please visit https://www.huroncounty.ca/climate-change-energy/ or contact the County’s Planning Department at planning@huroncounty.ca.
The County of Huron asks the community to continue respecting all public health guidelines, including performing hand hygiene, practicing physical distancing, wearing masks and staying home if ill. Stay informed on the COVID-19 situation in Huron County by visiting the Huron-Perth Public Health website.