The City of Salmon Arm is set to ban single use plastic bags as of July 1, part of a new bylaw to regulate single use shopping bags in that community.

Mayor Alan Harrison says the process has taken about eight months with plenty of input from residents and business owners, who he says are in favour of the ban.

Harrison notes there is a six month transition period once the bylaw takes effect next month for people to get used to the bylaw, and for retailers to get rid of any plastic bags they have in stock.

“On January 1, 2020 the bylaw will come into full implementation. You will not be able to purchase a single use plastic bag in Salmon Arm,” Harrison said. “The options will be a reusable bag, but as a back up plan, customers can purchase a paper bag for $0.15, and that price will go up to $0.25 as of January 1st.”

Harrison adds the city will be providing residents with a reusable shopping bag for two reasons.

“One is to help, so that everyone will have a reusable bag,” he noted. “But we are also changing our brand here in Salmon Arm. Our new brand is ‘Small City with Big Ideas’ and so we are also using that bag as a communication tool. How great will that be? Many shoppers in Salmon Arm carrying the Salmon Arm brand with them when they go shopping.”

The city estimates that about 7 million single use plastic bags are used in Salmon Arm every year, and he’s hoping to do their part to reduce that number.

Harrison says they followed Victoria’s model and that a number of other municipalities have reached out looking for ideas.