A pair of Amherstburg students are calling for a ban on single-use plastic bags and straws in the town.
Addisyn Walker and Darragh Aston of Anderdon Public School are bringing the issue to Amherstburg council Tuesday night.
Walker says a straw or a bag may not seem like much, but more 100-million marine animals are killed each year due to plastic debris in the ocean.
The Grade 7 student says the process of making plastic isn't good for the environment either.
"When plastic is made it releases many chemicals including benzene and vinyl hydrochloride into the air and soil when it's made," she says. "Through my research, I realized that it was actually an important thing that we need to do in order to help people, animals and the environment."
Walker says those who think they're doing the right thing by recycling plastic would be surprised to hear just how much ends up in the landfill.
"Less than 10% of plastic that is put in the recycle is actually recycled. I love animals and many species of animals are dying just because of plastic. Just last year there was a pilot whale found with over 80 plastic bags in his stomach. He was healthy otherwise, that's the only reason he died," she says.
Walker says the problem needs to be fixed sooner rather than later.
"The importance of doing something now is that Amherstburg, ourselves, we need to inspire other communities to do the same because even though we're just a little community, if we do it then other people will catch on and do the same thing which, in turn, will help the whole environment," she says.
Locally, several restaurants and bars as well as the WFCU Centre have already made the move to paper straws.
Last summer, the Town of LaSalle eliminated plastic straws and plastic stir sticks at the Vollmer Recreation Complex.