Vancouver City to take action to restrict or ban plastic bags

VANCOUVER (Scrap Monster): Vancouver City is in the process of implementing restrictions on use of certain items that contaminate the city's public places. The City plans to restrict, apply deposit fees or ban things like plastic bags, coffee cups and styrofoam materials.

The city report notes that recycling programs have taken care of these materials from home garbage. However, City residents are found dropping these items in city bins. According to City authorities, the Vancouver Charter doesn’t permit it to impose outright ban of these items. However, changes to the law would empower the city to impose tough restrictions including ban. The report noted that it is better if authorities focus on reducing the distribution of plastic bags, coffee cups and Styrofoam food containers at the point of sale.

The City plans to implement a comprehensive litter management system. As part of it, the staff will explore options to regulate the use and recycling options of these single-use items including imposition of deposit fee. Another proposal suggests mandating the recycling of these items through take-back programs. Meantime, the city urged residents to make use of the garbage bins to throw their litter and not throw them around trash cans.

The City is already in the process of implementing separate recycling collection mechanism for glass bottles and jars in order to prevent contamination of waste stream. Separate boxes and carts will be provided to residents before the second half of the current year. The separate glass collection mechanism is part of City’s efforts to reduce waste going to the landfill or incinerator by 50% by 2020, when matched with 2008 levels.