The Canadian government intends to designate plastics as toxic substances, which will allow them the authority to regulate and limit certain products. France prohibited single-use plastic plates, cups, and cutlery starting January 1, and England is enacting restrictions on plastic straws and stirrers beginning in April. Countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe either have bans on plastic bags or tax their usage. Eight U.S. states have placed a ban on single-use plastic bags—California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New York, Oregon, and Vermont. Former Vice President and Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden called for eliminating plastics during a town hall in New Hampshire where he specifically addressed single-use items such as straws but also seemed to call for a broader ban on the material.
