News

London, Ontario is set to become one of the first cities in the world to partially ban single-use plastic water bottles in all city-run facilities after its councillors voted overwhelmingly to halt sales.

The phased-in ban would take full effect by next spring and would be applied to facilities such as golf courses, arenas and parks which are equipped with water fountains.

The move stems from a bid by councillors to promote the city's tap water as a healthy choice and to cut down on the estimated 20 million plastic bottles that end up in the city's landfill each year.

Similar measures are being considered in Vancouver, Ottawa and Kitchener, Ontario.

Aaron Freeman, policy director at Environmental Defence - a national advocacy group, told The Globe and Mail: "I think other municipalities will be very encouraged by London's leadership," said. "Already many are looking at this issue, and I'm sure many others will."

Vancouver city council has voted in favour of bottled water restrictions and officials are in the process of determining how they can be implemented.

Tim Stevenson, a Vancouver city councillor, said: "Bottled-water companies have had a fabulous ride on an unnecessary fad."