Single-Use Item Reduction Strategy Emily Willobee, Policy & Programs Planner Council Meeting September 9, 2019
Presentation Outline 1. Jurisdiction for single-use items 2. Items of local impact 3. Recommendation and proposed timeline SINGLE-USE ITEM REDUCTION STRATEGY 2
What are single-use items Single-use Single-use Other single-use “packaging - like” items plastics (“products”) packaging items Includes: Includes: Includes: • • • plastic and polystyrene plastic straws; balloons; • • foam takeout containers; plastic stir sticks; and disposable diapers; • • • plastic and paper checkout plastic cutlery or utensils. plastic party cups or bags; plates; and • • plastic film and overwrap; food storage bags (e.g., • coffee and drink cups, Ziploc bags). including polystyrene foam cups; and • plastic drink cup lids. Clearly defined in the provincial Not defined as packaging by the Not considered packaging items Recycling Regulation and subject to provincial Recycling Regulation , but under the provincial Recycling EPR program for Packaging and often associated with take-out Regulation and not included in Printed Paper . packaging materials. EPR programs. SINGLE-USE ITEM REDUCTION STRATEGY
1 Jurisdiction for single-use items SINGLE-USE ITEM REDUCTION STRATEGY
Information about jurisdiction Federal Provincial BC Local Governments Government Government Regulatory Federal wildlife and Provincial wildlife and Municipal waste collection authority environmental environmental protection (residential, public realm, protection litter) Product packaging Business regulation design standards Import standards Authority Authority to regulate Authority to establish EPR Limited authority to specific to single-use items programs, regulate single- regulate distribution of single-use use items single-use items through items local business regulations Potential Product design EPR programs and Business licensing & tools regulations product stewardship plans regulation bylaws Import standards SINGLE-USE ITEM REDUCTION STRATEGY
July 11 BC Court of Appeal decision Canadian Plastic Bag Association vs. City of Victoria BC Court of Appeal ruling: Provincial approval is required for local government to adopt bylaw regulating distribution of single-use items. At the June 24, 2019 Meeting, Council passed a motion to request provincial approval to regulate. SINGLE-USE ITEM REDUCTION STRATEGY
Provincial action • Single-use packaging items in EPR Program managed by Recycle BC • Some items collected at depot-only • New stewardship plan recently accepted by Province • Clean BC Plastics Action Plan consultation paper Recycle BC’s depot -only items SINGLE-USE ITEM REDUCTION STRATEGY
Federal action • Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment: national strategy and action plan development launched in 2018 • Government of Canada: announced in June 2019 the intention to roll out nation-wide measures to reduce or ban some single-use items as soon as 2021 SINGLE-USE ITEM REDUCTION STRATEGY
Metro Vancouver regional action • Released 2018 waste audit results, including single-use item information • Developing regional tool kit for local governments • Resource for local government action on single-use item reduction • Currently conducting stakeholder engagement • Coordinating dialogue among member municipalities • Advocacy in support of member municipalities Target items for the Metro Vancouver Regional Single-use Item Toolkit SINGLE-USE ITEM REDUCTION STRATEGY
2 Items of local impact SINGLE-USE ITEM REDUCTION STRATEGY
Impacts to District municipal operations Single-use item Local operational impact Notes Item is sometimes targeted for voluntary reduction (typically Hot drink cups Significant a discount at point of sale for bringing a reusable cup). & lids An estimated 320,000-380,000 cups are collected each year in West Vancouver’s streetside bins. (plasticized or polycoat paper cups) Only 7% of West Vancouver residents reported that they Polystyrene Notable often bring depot-only materials like foam and plastic film foam cups and for recycling (2017). containers Foam accounts for approximately 10% Alternatives to polystyrene foam cups and takeout of recorded shoreline litter locally. containers are readily available. Many businesses have already switched to plastic or paper alternatives. A wide variety of container types are used for takeout foods, Other takeout Notable with varying instructions for recycling or disposal. containers Food safety requirements established by provincial health authorities impact the takeout container choices of local businesses. (metal, plastic, plasticized or SINGLE-USE ITEM REDUCTION STRATEGY polycoat paper, etc.)
3 Recommendation and proposed timeline SINGLE-USE ITEM REDUCTION STRATEGY
Single-use Item Reduction Strategy • Initiate local business engagement in Fall 2019 • Continue to document impact of single-use items on municipal operations • Advocate at UBCM and to the Province for regulatory opportunities • Continue to support and facilitate voluntary reduction efforts by NGOs and local business • Report back to Council with results and recommendations in early 2020 SINGLE-USE ITEM REDUCTION STRATEGY
Proposed engagement timeline Phase Timeline Key stakeholders District: Summer 2019 Internal action planning by Leadership by & on-going cross-departmental staff group example Phase I: Initiate Fall 2019 Local business and Information business associations gathering Report back early 2020 Phase II: TBD Local business and Action planning business associations General public SINGLE-USE ITEM REDUCTION STRATEGY
Thank You! SINGLE-USE ITEM REDUCTION STRATEGY
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