Vancouver City to Enact Ban on Single-use Plastic Bags

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Vancouver is gearing up for a ban on single-use plastic bags, as part of its ongoing effort to reduce the impact on the environment by making people use less quantities of single-use plastic items.

The City has already announced that polystyrene containers will be banned effective Jan 1, 2020. It has already begun efforts to educate restaurant owners to use alternative packaging materials in place of foam packaging. Violation of the law is likely to result in warnings initially. However, at a later stage, fine of up to $250 will be charged per violation, City officials noted.

As the next step, the city plans to introduce ban on plastic straws. The ban was supposed to be effective starting 1^st June but is now being agreed in principle to be postponed until April 2020. Further, this will require the approval of the Council.

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The proposed ban on single-use plastic bags is considered to be the most comprehensive among various bans and is expected to have wide-reaching and significant impact on residents. Vancouver businesses have already expressed support to the ban, to promote environmental health. However, many expressed concerns that the alternative sustainable packaging option could be costlier.

Some large retailers such as Whole Foods Market have already phased out plastic bags, replacing them with paper alternatives. Meanwhile, others including Safeway and Sobeys Inc. plans to phase out plastic bags by end-January next year.