Province makes it easier to ban plastic bags and other plastics

Municipalities throughout the province can now prevent plastics from polluting their communities.

Under new rules, local governments can institute bans on plastic bags and certain single-use plastics without provincial approval.

The province is also expanding the number of products to be recycled by adding milk and milk-alternative containers to the deposit-refund system in February.

More than 20 municipalities in B.C. are developing bylaws banning single-use plastics. Under the previous regulation, bylaws were approved for the municipalities of Esquimalt, Nanaimo, Richmond, Rossland, Saanich, Surrey, Tofino, Ucluelet and Victoria.

“Researchers have found plastic just about everywhere they have looked, from deep sea sediment to our shorelines,” Laura Hardman, director of plastics, Ocean Wise, said. “This pollution is a threat to our health, the economy and marine life – from zooplankton to beluga whales. We have seen growing support for policies banning unnecessary single-use items from B.C restaurants through our Plastic Reduction Program. By giving municipalities the ability to act swiftly to enact bans on unnecessary plastics, this amendment will support the systemic change we need to stop plastic pollution.”