TORONTO—  In a  statement by the LCBO (provincial alcohol retailer) announcement where the company said it would phase out paper bags as part of a new sustainability initiative. LCBO claims more than 135 million paper bags are distributed in their stores a year. The move comes as part of a partnership with the non-profit, Tree Canada. They claim it would save 188,000 trees each year and divert 2,665 tonnes of waste from landfills. The Canadian forestry industry claims just 0.2 per cent of Canada’s forested land is harvested — a small fraction of what is lost to fires and insect infestation. For every tree harvested, another two are planted. Pulp and paper is also one of Northern Ontario's largest employers. Ontarians have been diligent recyclers ever since the Blue Box Program was created 40 years ago. According to Stewardship Ontario, which operates the Blue Box Program, paper packaging (which includes paper bags) is the number one most collected and recycled material, comprising nearly half of what Ontarians recycle.