Ban on plastic straws in Vancouver could go into effect next year

As part of its its single-use item reduction strategy, a new staff report is recommending plastic straws be banned in the City of Vancouver

“Over the past two years, the city has worked with residents and businesses through extensive consultation to develop a made-in-Vancouver strategy for reducing the use of single-use items,” the reported stated.

The proposed strategy includes early by-law enactments to prohibit plastic straws and polystyrene cups and take out containers, as well as requiring reduction plans to reduce the use of plastic and paper bags and disposable cups.

“At this time, reduction plans are the recommended approach in the Single-Use Item Reduction Strategy for driving reduction,” the report said. “The reduction plan by-law amendment will offer business license holders flexibility and choice, and target all plastic and paper bags across all business license holders in the city.’

It added that staff will monitor results based on data collected, and assess if further regulatory action is needed three years after the by-law amendments come into effect.

See also

• Could Vancouver ban disposable coffee cups in the near future?
• Vancouver considering ban on plastic bags and disposable coffee cups

As for the revision involving the potential straw ban, the report states that such an action “involves an amendment to the License By-law, which will prohibit business license holders from distributing single-use plastic straws beginning November 1, 2019.”

For now, it added,  city staff will consult further with appropriate civic agencies, community health groups, affected businesses and stakeholders,  “to identify opportunities to support the transition, accommodate health care needs, and ensure any unintended consequences are addressed before the by-law amendment is prepared.”

Staff will report back to Council with an implementation plan by December 31, 2018.

The recommendation comes as part of the feedback that was received after the city announced last year it would begin taking steps to cut down on this amount,  and invited the public to provide feedback comment on a draft of its Single-Use Item Reduction Strategy.