Canada to force plastic makers to report how much they make, reuse and recycle

Canada is seeking to get a better handle on how much plastic is being produced in the country by forcing companies that make it to report annually on what they produce.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault is announcing the national plastics registry the day before negotiations for a global treaty to end plastic waste gets underway in Ottawa.

Guilbeault is a key player in the talks, which aim to establish an international agreement to eliminate plastic waste by 2040.

Canadians throw away more than four million tonnes of plastic every year, and less than one-tenth of it is actually recycled.

The registry will first apply to makers of plastic packaging, electronics and single-use plastic products, with plans to extend in later years to cover producers of resins, tires and agricultural products.

They will be required to report every year on how much plastic they make, and where those products end up.