Saturday December 2, 2023 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Preventing plastic waste and pollution is part of BC’s efforts to support a clean economy.
In a range of scenarios — from retail to residence — there will be more options that support a healthier environment and cleaner economy.
As one example, starting this month, retail and food service customers will not receive items like cutlery and condiments unless they need them. That includes plastic utensils, including spoons, forks, knives, chopsticks, stir sticks and drink splash plugs.
Changes effective December 20, 2023:
As of December 20, 2023 these items are banned:
- plastic utensils, including spoons, forks, knives, chopsticks, stir sticks and drink splash plugs
- pre-packed bundled food service accessories
As of December 20, 2023 these items are by request only or from a self-service station:
- wooden utensils; cup lids and sleeves; straws
- condiments
- napkins; wet wipes
- garnishes (e.g., plastic sushi grass, umbrellas for drinks
Funding to help improve design and use:
Phasing out single-use plastics is part of the CleanBC Plastics Action Plan’s goal of changing how plastic is designed and used, from temporary and disposable, to durable and reusable.
Provincial actions to address plastic waste and pollution include:
- enabling local governments to ban plastic shopping bags and certain single-use plastics;
- adding milk and milk-substitute beverage containers to B.C.’s deposit-refund system to capture the millions of containers from restaurants, schools and offices without a dedicated recycling system;
- adding all residential single-use and packaging-like products to B.C.’s recycling stream;
- allocating more than $46 million toward new composting facilities in B.C. to divert organic material from landfills and improve composting technology;
- investing approximately $40 million in the CleanBC Plastics Action Fund, which supports B.C.-based innovators to reduce plastic waste, reuse items and include more recycled material in the manufacturing of products;
- establishing dedicated Indigenous-led project funding under the CleanBC Plastics Action Fund, with an initial eight projects receiving more than $1.3 million;
- supporting the largest shoreline cleanup in B.C.’s history through Clean Coast, Clean Waters, with more than 1,500 tonnes of marine debris removed to date, and more than 60% of shoreline material reused/recycled; and,
- phasing in the recycling of new products, such as electric vehicle batteries, mattresses, compressed canisters and medical sharps over the next four years under the Extended Producer Responsibility Five-Year Plan.
Making good environmental choices easier:
“We want to ensure people have the best options available to effectively transition from single-use plastics,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.
“We’re working with industry to make good environmental choices easier so British Columbians can use products that decrease pollution and emissions.”
In July 2023, B.C. announced the Single-Use and Plastic Waste Prevention Regulation, which will limit the use of plastic shopping bags, disposable food service accessories, oxo-degradable plastics, and food-service packaging made of polystyrene foam, PVC, PVDC, compostable and biodegradable plastics.
Alternative product deadline adjusted to July 15, 2024:
To better support businesses and industries to source alternative products, government has adjusted the rollout of some items under B.C.’s regulation until July 15, 2024.
That will mean no plastic shopping bags at checkouts, a small fee for paper and reusable bags and fewer plastics.
When more time is needed to source alternatives for some products — such as PVC film wrap and polystyrene foam trays used for meat, poultry and seafood — additional time will be allowed before they are prohibited (see backgrounder below, for a detailed list and rollout times).
===== LINKS:
Information and regulation guidelines
Information about B.C. legislation
Regulation implementation timelines
The regulation supports B.C.’s efforts to prevent single-use and plastic waste, divert more waste from landfills and keep consumer products working longer.
Dec. 20, 2023
Banned:
- plastic utensils, including spoons, forks, knives, chopsticks, stir sticks and drink splash plugs
- pre-packed bundled food service accessories
By customer request only or from a self-service station:
- wooden utensils; cup lids and sleeves; straws
- condiments
- napkins; wet wipes
- garnishes (e.g., plastic sushi grass, umbrellas for drinks
July 15, 2024
Banned:
- plastic shopping bags, with a minimum fee on new reusable and paper bags.
- food-service ware* made of biodegradable plastic, polystyrene foam (i.e., Styrofoam), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) materials
- film wrap made from biodegradable plastic or PVDC
- all oxo-degradable plastics
For limited use (i.e. prepared food that is not for takeout, delivery or immediate consumption):
- food-service ware* and film wrap made from compostable plastic (*= bowls, boxes or cartons, cups, containers, plates, platters and trays).
July 1, 2028
Banned: PVC film wrap
July 1, 2030
Banned: polystyrene foam trays