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Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy

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Backgrounders

What people are saying about municipal bylaws banning single-use plastics

Malcolm Brodie, mayor, City of Richmond –

“Richmond’s bylaw to ban single-use plastics and other items makes our community one of the leaders in preventing millions of plastic and foam items from entering landfills and waterways every year. Thanks to the input we received from business and community members through our extensive communication and engagement campaign last year, we know it’s important to work with business as part of creating and implementing the new ban. We will continue to identify and raise awareness about how each of us can reduce unnecessary waste. Given the current situation due to COVID-19 and the pressures the situation is posing on business, we will be assessing the timing of implementing of our bylaw.”

Lisa Helps, mayor, City of Victoria –

“It’s great to see the Province taking these important steps to give local governments more control over managing our waste streams for the benefit of the environment and our bottom lines. Victoria’s bylaw banning plastic bags was one of the first in the country. Thanks to its implementation, more than 17 million plastic bags stay out of the landfill annually. Victoria residents and businesses deserve a great deal of thanks for making the transition so seamless. In Victoria, we spend over $5 million a year managing waste. Reducing the amount of plastic that goes into the landfill will save our residents and businesses money. Thanks to this provincial action, these new powers will allow the city to implement more zero-waste and circular-economy strategies.”

Fred Haynes, mayor, District of Saanich –

“Saanich has declared a climate emergency, and the elimination of checkout bags is an important step toward becoming more sustainable, reducing waste and respecting our natural environment. We want to do our part to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect our environment, both now and into the future. Reducing the negative impacts from discarded plastic bags is a small but significant step. We look forward to working with our residents and businesses to make this a reality.”

Josie Osborne, mayor, District of Tofino –

“We’ve heard loudly and clearly from West Coast residents, visitors and businesses that single-use plastic packaging has no place in our waste streams, our landfills or polluting local waters and beaches. Bringing a municipal bylaw into force was the final step to phasing out items that we simply do not need, and we’re excited to join a number of B.C.’s local governments that are working with their communities and with the Province to reduce the use of single-use plastics.”

Mayco Noel, mayor, Resort Municipality of Ucluelet –

“This bylaw is an important step forward and we thank the Province for their support on this initiative. We are excited to continue the work with our provincial and regional partners and local businesses to reduce single-use item waste on the West Coast.”