The Washington-based Plastics Industry Association added its voice this week to a chorus of complaints about the proposal to ban some single use plastics.

Industry leaders said plastic products don't belong anywhere near a list of harmful products that includes mercury, asbestos and lead.

Canadians are turning in large numbers to plastics amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"To date there are zero cases of (surface contact) transmission. Systems for reusable and refill are proven to be safe and sanitary," said a spokesperson for the Surfrider Foundation.

According to researchers, the improved enzyme breaks down 90 per cent of plastic bottles for recycling within a span of 10 hours.

Heavy rains across the region led to thousands of plastic pellets flowing into the Audley Channel on Annacis Island, spilling over onto the banks.

The move is expected to keep 225 million plastic bags out of circulation each year.

The pellets, known as "nurdles" are made from plastic polymers and used in the production of items like single-use plastic bags and water bottles.

A Canadian company believes the technology it helped fund will lead to cleaner oceans and reduce the amount of waste that gets dumped into them.

It's one of several ideas environmental groups pitched on Saturday in a bid to cut down on marine plastic pollution.