During an especially busy Harrison Hot Springs council meeting, village councilors approved three readings of an updated single-use plastics bylaw. The council will vote on whether or not to adopt the bylaw at a later date.
The local single-use plastics ban has been in the works for nearly two years. In the summer of 2019, village staff created and distributed a short survey to the business community to research the impacts of banning single-use plastics. Of those who responded, 71 per cent provided single-use plastics to their customers. Roughly two-thirds of those who provided single-use plastics estimated their current stock would last between six months and one year, at the time.
Survey respondents had numerous concerns surrounding the original proposed bylaw, including needing at least one tourism season in advance before the ban is applied and worries that asking tourists to provide their own cloth bags or containers may be unfeasible.
RELATED: Harrison village staff drafts plastic ban bylaw
Village staff drafted a bylaw banning the commercial distribution of single-use plastics in early 2020. However, in March 2020, the Ministry of Environmental and Climate Change Strategy notified the village that the bylaw was not approved by the province. The ministry told the village that, in the initial bylaw, the definition of single-use plastics was too broad and there were not enough exemptions for medical plastics and bendable plastic straws that some people living with disabilities may require. This put the bylaw on hold while the village and province worked together to create a new bylaw.
RELATED: B.C. moves to ban some single-use plastic bags, products province-wide
This January, the province released a Local Government Guide for Bylaws Regulating Single-Used Plastics, which guided village staff in drafting of the new bylaw for Harrison.
Here are some of the potential regulations listed in the drafted bylaw:
- Businesses must not provide non-plastic bags, utensils or straws without first asking the customer if items are needed.
- Businesses must charge a fee for paper or reusable plastic bags.
- Exemptions include medical plastics, plastic bags for bulk items or flowers, previously used plastic bags and patrons who would be financially burdened by bag fees.
The drafted bylaw would take effect Jan. 2023, if it’s adopted as is.
The next regular Harrison Hot Springs council meeting is scheduled for Monday, March. 7, at 7 p.m. at Memorial Hall. Online attendance via Zoom is also an option with instructions available at harrisonhotsprings.ca. Meetings are archived on the village’s YouTube page.
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