TORONTO, Ont. – With just weeks before the City of Toronto’s plastic shopping bag ban goes into effect, a coalition of anti-ban groups have come together in a bid to stop it.

The coalition has launched a website, Reversethebagban.ca, and a series of videos.

Spokesperson Kevin Gaudet said one of the alternatives to the plastic bag will create an environmental disaster.

“A switch from plastic to paper bags in Toronto would see a forest cut down in short order — the equivalent of Toronto’s entire tree canopy harvested just to make paper bags,” Gaudet said.

He also said coalition members haven’t been consulted but bag ban supporter Councillor Gord Perks said they’ve already been given a chance.

“The particular guys from the plastic industry were never willing to help; they don’t want to consult — they’re not genuine in that complaint,” Perks said.

The bag ban is set to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2013.