District of Squamish one step closer to becoming a plastic-free community

Updated Single-Use Items Reduction Bylaw bans plastic bags and regulates additional single-use items

District of Squamish Council has adopted amendments to the Single-Use Items Reduction Bylaw that will ban the use of plastic bags in Squamish and regulate additional single-use items including plastic straws, plastic takeout utensils and foam takeout containers. Bylaw enforcement will begin on August 15, 2022 following a six-month period to allow time for the District to provide education to businesses and the community, and also to allow for businesses to exhaust any existing supplies of plastic check out bags and source alternatives to the newly banned items.

“Reducing the use of plastics in our recycling and waste streams will bring major environmental benefits to our community in the form of reduced waste, less ocean plastic and less contamination in our recycling streams,” says District of Squamish Mayor Karen Elliott. “Many businesses have already encouraged the use of reusable items and updating this bylaw will move us closer to reaching our goal of zero waste by 2040 and anticipated changes coming in 2023 from the Provincial and Federal governments on single-use items. This bylaw is aimed at inspiring behavioural shifts amongst all citizens many of us will find it challenging for a while, but the new habits we form will have lasting environmental benefits.” 

Under the updated bylaw, the following items are not permitted to be distributed or sold at checkout:

• Plastic checkout bags
• Plastic utensils
• Plastic straws
• Polystyrene foam takeout containers
• Plastic stir sticks

Exemptions to the bylaw include the provision of plastic or paper bags to package items such as loose bulk and hardware items, frozen foods such as meat, and prescription drugs. For a full list of exemptions visit squamish.ca/reduce-single-use.

How we got here:

In 2019, District of Squamish Council adopted a new Single-Use Item Bylaw in an effort to reduce single-use checkout bags and plastic straws. The Bylaw required all Squamish businesses to ask customers whether a bag is needed at the time of purchase, and to sell any plastic, paper or reusable checkout bags to the customer according to an escalating fee schedule based on the estimated emissions impact of each bag type.

In July 2021, the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy released a Ministerial Order to outline how a Municipality may regulate four types of single-use items: checkout bags, plastic straws, plastic takeout utensils and foam takeout containers. These latest amendments to the Single-Use Item Bylaw were drafted in alignment with this Ministerial Order. Federal restrictions to prohibit or restrict some single-use plastic items are anticipated to be introduced. Provincial legislation is also expected in 2023. The federal regulations are expected to add more items to the list and make it easier for businesses by preventing the sale of banned items.

Accessible Straws

Plastic single-use straws will always be made available to those who require them for health, medical or disability reasons. A plastic, bendable straw must be provided by the business in this case upon request by any customer.

What residents can do:

• Bring reusable bags to the grocery store, shopping mall, market and all other shopping destinations;
• Carry a portable convenience kit including a beverage cup, straw and cutlery;
• Keep a stash of reusable bags in the car, or in your bike bag;
• Reuse paper bags within the home, such as for keeping food fresh, lining organics bins or wrapping and freeze food waste until collection day.
• Download the Squamish Curbside App (for iOS and Android) for weekly recycling and Zero Waste Tips.

Fast Facts:

• 42 tonnes of polystyrene foam takeout containers were collected at Squamish recycling depots in 2020 – that’s the equivalent of 103 black bears, or two full garbage trucks.
• Single-use items now regulated under the updated bylaw represented 5.1% of the waste deposited in the Squamish Landfill in 2020.

Businesses will be provided with a toolkit, best practices and information on how to integrate the bylaw regulations into their current operations. For more information and to view our Frequently Asked Questions visit squamish.ca/reduce-single-use. 

March 8, 2022