A class action lawsuit over reusable bags is moving forward in Quebec

A class action lawsuit over reusable bags is moving forward in Quebec

A class action lawsuit filed against several major retailers over shopping bags marketed as recyclable will be allowed to proceed in Quebec, but it will not be extended to the rest of Canada.

The decision follows the Supreme Court of Canada’s refusal to hear the appeal filed by the plaintiff and her legal representatives. The country’s highest court thus upholds the previous rulings of the Quebec Superior Court and the Quebec Court of Appeal.

The lawsuit targets woven polypropylene shopping bags sold by several retailers and labeled as “recyclable.” The plaintiffs argue that, despite this claim, these bags are generally not recycled in Quebec and instead end up in landfills.

Companies named in the suit include Dollarama, Costco, Metro, Rona, the Société des alcools du Québec, Giant Tiger, and other major retailers.

The retailers involved maintain that polypropylene is a recyclable material and that the information printed on the bags reflected what was known at the time they were marketed.

The court has not yet ruled on the substance of the case. The next step will be to determine whether the bags in question can actually be recycled under existing conditions in Quebec and whether the representations made to consumers were appropriate.

Affected Quebec consumers will be able to follow the progress of the case as legal proceedings continue.