Kamloops city staff are aiming to ban plastic bags in the spring of next year.
Sustainability service supervisor Glen Cheetham says the ban would prevent businesses from giving out plastic carry-out bags. If the ban is passed, as it stands right now businesses could still sell reusable paper bags for a small fee, and there would be some exceptions for allowing plastic bags.
“Some businesses are already making moves, preparing themselves for this potential policy change. I can’t speak on behalf of businesses, but we’ve allowed for some time in here because we want to get this right and we want to make sure we’re achieving the objectives and the purpose of the bylaw.”
Cheetham says people will need to find other means of lining their garbage cans, which he acknowledged can be a challenge at first.
“But it also speaks to one of the drivers of the policy, which is putting a price on the waste. And that’s the same with the reusable bags, the reason there’s a fee associated with the reusable bags. It is a waste-reduction policy, we don’t want to create new sources of waste.”
A recent study, included in a report to city council, estimated 18 million plastic bags are distributed in Kamloops each year, working out to about 200 per person.
Coun. Dale Bass, who spearheaded the push for a plastic bag in Kamloops, says she hopes such a ban can be brought in sooner.
Speaking on the NL Morning News, she says the spring of 2020 is a reasonable timeline to bring in the ban but says businesses are already making adjustments.
“I guess it depends on how you view the need for input, because we’re basing it on the Victoria bylaw, which I think any smart businessperson has already read… So I question the need for a whole lot more consultation, however muting my opinion is the fact that our city staff are busy running the city,” Bass says.
“Administration view these as educational processes, but I think the thing here is the businesses are going to buy, and they’re going to be helping to promote and educate it. Because they’re not going to be able to just give you a plastic bag anymore, and if you want one you’re going to be paying because there’s a cost to that pollution.”
Kamloops city staff will be consulting with businesses this summer and will bring back a bylaw to city council in the fall.