New B.C. Shopping Bag Fees & Plastics Ban Now in Force  - Retail Council of Canada
British Columbia | Plastics and Alternatives | Sustainability

New B.C. Shopping Bag Fees & Plastics Ban Now in Force 

July 16, 2024

Attention legal and sustainability teams: As of July 15, 2024, B.C.’s Single Use and Plastic Waste Reduction Regulation mandates a minimum fee of 25 cents for paper bags and $2 for reusable ones. Paper bags must have at least 40% recycled content, and reusable bags must be machine washable. Businesses with 500+ employees must track the number of bags sold annually. Exemptions apply to used shopping bags, small paper bags, bags for produce and bulk goods, and recycled paper bags for prescriptions. Additionally, businesses cannot sell packaging or single-use products with oxo-degradable or biodegradable plastics, including dog-waste bags and dry-cleaning overwrap, nor food service ware made from these materials, PVC, or polystyrene foam.