British Columbia’s Sidney and Harrison Hot Springs introduce single-use bylaws

Sidney’s bylaw, set to come into effect on January 1, 2023, bans plastic checkout bags (with standard exemptions), as well as foam containers for use with take-out/prepared food, plastic drinking straws (with an exemption for those with accessibility needs), stir sticks, and plastic utensils. The minimum fee for paper bags will be 25 cents, with a minimum fee of $2.00 for reusable bags.

Harrison Hot Springs has also passed a bylaw that will take effect January 1, 2023. It bans plastic checkout bags (with standard exemptions), polystyrene foam service ware containers, plastic utensils and plastic drinking straws. The minimum fee for paper bags will be 15 cents for the introductory period, rising to 25 cents after December 31, 2023, and $1.00 for reusable, rising to $2 after December 31, 2023.