Vancouver City Council Bans Plastic Retail Bags

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Vancouver City Council voted to accept a staff recommendation to ban plastic bags at the checkout of retail stores effective January 1, 2021. The recommendation also includes proposals to reduce other single-use items.

All plastic shopping bags including compostable plastic bags will be banned. It proposes to charge a fee of at least 15 cents of paper bags and $1 on reusable bags. After a period of one year, this fee must be increased to 25 cents and $2 respectively. Also, alternative paper bags must contain at least 40% recycled content.

ALSO READ: County Approves Grace Period on Enforcement of Plastic Bag Ban

The bylaw proposes a ban on plastic straws, including compostable plastic straws effective April 22, 2020. It requires that all accessible straws be provided upon request. Further, it provides one-year exemption for plastic straws served with bubble tea, in order to allow businesses to find alternatives.

All disposable cups will be charged a fee of 25 cents, with effect from January 1, 2021. The by-law requires single-use utensils, irrespective of what material they are made of, be given out by-request only.

The recommended by-laws are part of the ongoing implementation of the City’s Single-Use Item Reduction Strategy.