High school student Michelle Arseneault has rallied the support of her local community in hopes of becoming the first community in Ontario to ban the use of single use plastic shopping bags.
When Michelle was in grade 10, she decided to engage the citizens of her local community to reduce their plastic bag consumption. As a result, The One Less Plastic Bag campaign was born, and on Earth Day 2008, 27 local retailers halted the distribution of single use plastic bags as a result. By Earth Day 2010, Michelle had secured the support of 43 local retailers—representing 90% of all retailers in her community—to stop the distribution of plastic shopping bags. Based on this success, Michelle created several short films to educate the local community on the negative impacts plastic bags have on the environment.
The One Less Plastic Bag campaign also gained the attention of the Mayor and City Council. Bylaw no. 20-1, prohibiting the sale and/or free distribution of plastic bags within the municipality of Sioux Lookout, is currently in its third and final reading. If passed, Sioux Lookout will become the first community in Ontario to ban the distribution of single use plastic retail bags.
Under Michelle’s leadership, the impacts of plastic bags will be significantly reduced due to the introduction of Bylaw no. 20-1.
