Vancouver is implementing rules against single-use and throw-away waste

Paper Cup Ban in Vancouver: As part of its effort to become a zero-waste city, the City of Vancouver is implementing policies aimed at eliminating single-use items.

The adoption of cup and shopping bag by-laws was originally intended to begin in early 2021, but was delayed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic. A year later, the by-laws come back, with the purpose of minimising waste and trash and assisting citizens, businesses, and non-profits.

Shopping bags made of plastic

Plastic bags and plastic labelled or described as compostable, degradable, or produced from biological elements are explicitly prohibited under the new rules.

However, there are certain exceptions:

• Large shopping bags used to transport linens, bedding, or other such large things that would not fit readily in a paper or reusable shopping bag.
• Produce bags, bakery products bags, raw meat bags, dry cleaning bags, garbage bin liners, sandwich bags, pet waste bags, and compost liners

Paper bags are permitted, however Vancouver firms must charge a minimum cost of $0.15 each bag. The minimum cost for paper shopping bags is projected to rise by $0.10 in 2023.

The following are exempt from fees:

• Bags in bag-share, take-a-bag, leave-a-bag, and similar programmes
• Pharmacies provide reusable bags.
• Paper bags that are less than 15 cm x 20 cm when folded,
• Bags used by a recognised charity or not-for-profit organisation to offer free or low-cost food.

Cups

Businesses must charge a minimum of $0.25 for each single-use cup delivered under the new bylaws. Single-use cup fees, like prior levies, are held by the business and do not go to the city. Businesses can still provide discounts to customers who choose reusable mugs.

The following are exempt from fees:

• Bags in bag-share, take-a-bag, leave-a-bag, and similar programmes
• Pharmacies provide reusable bags.
• Paper bags that are less than 15 cm x 20 cm when folded,
• Bags used by a recognised charity or not-for-profit organisation to offer free or low-cost food.

Straws

Businesses, charities, and not-for-profit organisations must keep flexible, individually wrapped plastic straws on hand for consumers who struggle to drink. Anyone who requests a flexible plastic straw should be given one, and no medical information is necessary to show their need.

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Having said that, the ban on all other plastic straws includes:

• Plastic derived from fossil fuels
• Compostable, biodegradable, or manufactured from biological materials plastic

Among the exceptions are:

• Hospitals and community health centres
• Personal-use packages with at least 20 straws
• Straws made of plastic that are affixed to drink cartons and bags

Utensils

This bylaw is based on the customer requesting the utensils. That is, suppliers can only supply single-use utensils for dine-in, take-out, in-person, online, and phone orders provided a consumer verifies they want them or takes it themselves at a self-service station.

Note: The bylaw applies to all sorts of single-use spoons, knives, forks, and chopsticks.

Among the exceptions to the norm are:

• Hospitals and community health centres
• Personal-use utensil packages containing at least 20 single-use utensils

Cups and containers made of foam

All polystyrene foam cups and take-out containers used to serve prepared food or beverages are prohibited. Plates, cups, bowls, trays, cartons, and hinged or closed containers are all included. This includes prepared food consumed on-site, as take-out or delivery, or packaged as leftovers.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, charitable food providers may continue to give single-use products with food or meals, but they must begin working to comply with the bylaws as soon as feasible.

The following items are exempt from the foam ban:

• Hospitals and community health centres
• Foam trays used to package uncooked food or items packaged outside of Vancouver Personal-use foam cups and foam containers

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