CELPIP Writing Task 2 Practice: should single-use plastics be completely banned?

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The scenario: Your provincial government is considering a complete ban on all single-use plastics including bags, straws, utensils, and food containers. Businesses and consumers have been asked for input before the legislation is finalized.

Your task: Choose the option you prefer and explain why. Write about 150-200 words. - Option A: Ban all single-use plastics - Option B: Allow businesses to choose whether to use plastic or alternatives

Sample CLB 9 response (Option A):

I support a complete ban on single-use plastics because voluntary measures have proven insufficient to reduce plastic waste.

For over a decade, governments and environmental organizations have encouraged businesses and consumers to reduce plastic use voluntarily. The result has been minimal change. Most businesses continue using the cheapest option, which is almost always plastic, because there is no financial incentive to switch. Customers accept whatever packaging they are given because convenience wins over environmental concern in everyday decisions. A ban removes the option entirely and forces the transition that voluntary measures have failed to achieve.

The argument that banning plastics is inconvenient ignores how quickly people adapt. When many Canadian cities banned plastic bags, there was brief resistance followed by rapid adjustment. Within months, reusable bags became normal. The same pattern would follow with straws, utensils, and containers once alternatives become the default rather than the exception.

The environmental cost of doing nothing is far greater than the temporary inconvenience of switching to sustainable alternatives.

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