City of Vancouver passes single-use item reduction actions

The City of Vancouver has been working on a single-item reduction strategy for three years.  City Council passed a resolution in June 2018 to ban distribution of plastic straws, polystyrene foam beverage cups and polystyrene take-out food packaging.  This does not impact the sales of packages of straws, cups, utensils, or similar items.  It also does not impact the use of foam packaging to package grocery products such as meat, poultry and fish.

Update

1. Single-use distribution of polystyrene foam cups and polystyrene take-out food packaging will be banned as of January 1, 2020 (bylaw).
2. Single-use distribution of plastic straws will be banned in the near future. Council passed a resolution asking for a bylaw to enact this ban in April 2020.
3. Council asked staff to continue to work on other single-use item reduction including: plastic and paper shopping bags, disposable cups, take-out containers, straws and utensils.
4. Council directed staff to consider the City of Victoria’s approach, and the growing interest of neighbouring municipalities (City of Richmond, City of Delta, City of New Westminster) to collaborate on a plastic bag ban.

Next Steps

1. RCC will continue to engage with City councillors and staff.
2. RCC has written the Province of British Columbia to encourage harmonized province-wide action.

 

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If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact: Greg Wilson, Director, Government Relations (British Columbia) at gwilson@retailcouncil.org or 604-736-0368.