Overview of Proposed Bylaw 10000
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy has approved the City's Single-Use Plastic and Other Items Bylaw No. 10000 to ban:- plastic checkout bags;
- plastic straws; and
- foam food service ware for prepared food (such as foam plates, clamshell containers, bowls and cups).
Due to impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, the City does not yet have an adoption date for Bylaw 10000. Depending on what happens with the pandemic, the City will assess the timing for adopting and implementing the Bylaw.
Single-Use Plastic and Other Items Bylaw No. 10000 (not yet enacted)
Timeline
While this means we now have the authority to move forward with Bylaw 10000, the City will not be enacting the Bylaw at this time due to the impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.
We all recognize that with the COVID-19 pandemic, our local businesses are already grappling with multiple challenges. Depending on what happens with the pandemic, the City will assess the timing for enacting and implementing the Bylaw.
Who will be Affected
When adopted, the ban will affect all business license holders in the community – specifically those who currently use plastic checkout bags such as retail shopping or grocery bags, as well as those who use plastic straws or sell or provide food using foam containers.
Bylaw Exemptions
It is recognized that there are some exceptions that must be accommodated when the Bylaw is adopted to address health and safety considerations, accessibility and bulk purchasing of these items. The following is an overview of each category within the proposed ban and the exemptions that will apply.
| What's will be included | What will exemptions | |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1: Foam Containers |
“No business shall sell or otherwise provide Prepared Food in any Food Service Ware that contains Polystyrene Foam.” |
|
| Part 2: Plastic Straws | “No business shall sell or otherwise provide any Plastic Straws.” |
|
| Part 2: Checkout Bags |
“Except as provided in this Bylaw, no Business shall sell or otherwise provide a Plastic Checkout Bag to a customer.”
|
Businesses will be able to provide a plastic checkout bag to a customer if the bag has been returned to the purpose of being reused by other customers Sale of plastic bags intended for use at a customer's home or business provided that they are sold in packages of multiple bags
|
| Compostable Biodegradable Plastic Checkout Bags and Straws |
Compostable/biodegradable plastic are not guaranteed to biodegrade if littered or in industrial compost facilities because standards and certifications are not aligned with existing infrastructure that is designed to compost food scraps and yard waste. Often times, small flecks of plastic remain in the end product, rendering the product contaminated. It is beyond local government’s ability to control compostable packaging design, thus the City is reaching out to other levels of government to advocate for broader measures that will result in consistent standards and policies for compostable and biodegradable plastics. |
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