- Anne Finlay-Stewart, Editor

Mayor Ian Boddy could have been referring to any number of environmental actions when he said last evening, “Some don't think we're moving quickly enough; some think we're such a small community that anything we can do is just a drop in the bucket.”

The subject at hand was single-use plastics, and Boddy had come prepared to talk about plastic straws and stir sticks, but the committee had a bigger view. Councillor Brian O'Leary referred to the shrink wrap on hay bales and boats, and committee member Bob Hope spoke of the speed with which shoppers in Victoria, B.C. learned to adapt when plastic bags were banned city-wide.

Hope suggested determining what Owen Sound residents want done, but Boddy said “The community is likely ahead of us.” He referred to a poll reported on CBC that indicates 9 out of 10 Canadians are concerned about plastics in the environment and 82% believe that governments are not doing enough to tackle the issue. Boddy said it was time to “go to the people with a vested interest and ask them how they are going to do it.”

Director of Public Works and Engineering Dennis Kefalas says his department can work on a uniquely Owen Sound plan that will ensure our waterways can be enjoyed thirty or fifty years in the future.

In conversation with Liz Zetlin after the meeting, Kefalas referred to contractual sponsorship arrangements with Coca Cola as a challenge to ridding city-owned properties of single-use plastic bottles. Zetlin's efforts to help make Owen Sound a “Blue Community” go back many years, and she heard the “we can't make changes until the contract with Pepsi is up” back in 2014. The current contract is with Coca Cola, but Zetlin's understanding is that the City retains the right to determine what products are offered under that contract.

Laura Wood of the Owen Sound Waste Watchers posted after the meeting:
“At tonight's meeting, I was so happy to hear that the City of Owen Sound Operations Committee are all in support of moving to reduce plastic in our area. New Supervisor of Environmental Service, Cassandra Cesco, will be creating a short and long-term plan for the Committee to review. Great to see such positive response AND another young professional added to the City Team! Thanks to Mayor Boddy, Chair Scott Greig and all the Committee members for concern for our environment. We've got lots of work to do, and its great to have lots of people committed to making a difference!”