Please note: A previous version of this story had a headline indicating the ban would be effective June 1. To clarify, the ban takes effect June 1, 2019.
The City of Vancouver approved a ban on single-use straws and polystyrene foam cups and containers last night (May 16) as part of a multi-pronged plan to tackle excessive plastic waste and make the city achieve a zero waste goal.
The ban will take effect on June 1, 2019, six months earlier than originally proposed by city staff, and includes provisions for caretaking facilities and hospitals. It also includes funding to reach out and educate small businesses during the transition.
Not being banned are plastic bags and disposable coffee cups, which instead will see businesses attempt to reduce their use by charging fees, providing incentives or coming up with their own creative solutions.
However, if the City doesn’t hit target reduction rates of plastic bags and disposable cups by 2021, those items too could see a full ban.
While some restaurants cheered the City’s action and felt it was actually later than expected, others saw some last-minute provisions as detrimental to their bottom line.
Some owners and representatives from bubble tea shops asked council to delay the ban on plastic straws, citing that they had no viable alternative on the market yet.
Large businesses received the biggest surprise of all, as council passed a motion to investigate large business paying for their share of single-use item waste, although how such a fee would be implemented or how much it would cost is yet to be determined.
“There was no consultation regarding the last motion (to charge large businesses),” said NPA City Councillor George Affleck, who was one of four council members that voted against it.
Although Affleck was surprised by city staff’s recommendations to move up the ban on straws and foam containers, he was pleased with their responses regarding working with businesses.
“Obviously we don’t want to hurt small business or big business,” said Affleck.
Part of the single-use reduction plan passed by council ensured that cases of businesses struggling to adapt or potentially going out of business as a result of the plan would be brought before council to address specifically.
Enforcement on how each different single-use container will be restricted will prove tricky. Foam containers will be fully banned and ticketable, but the ban on straws was passed “in principle.” As well, food that was packaged in containers from outside of the City of Vancouver may be exempt.
