A councillor who has been pushing for Saanich to ban plastic bags applauds VictoriaB次元官网网址檚

B次元官网网址淭his is good news that Victoria has progressed to this stage because to be effective a plastic bag ban will need to be as region-wide as possible,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Susan Brice, led Saanich to investigate its own ban based on a . It would ban retailers from offering single-use plastic bags free of charge, but does not set any specific charges itself, while spelling out various exemptions.

Brice said two Saanich advisory committees B次元官网网址� environment and natural areas as well as planning, transportation, and economic development B次元官网网址� are currently with staff including SaanichB次元官网网址檚 legal team to test the enforceability of the bylaw.

Efforts to ban plastic bags in Saanich have been underway for some time, in echoing developments elsewhere in the region, as well as outside of it. Nanaimo recently , and

Many of these efforts started with local non-governmental actors, . Local businesses have also changed their policies ahead of future regulatory changes.

B次元官网网址淚t has been heartening to see that many in the public and businesses are already using alternatives to the single use plastic bags which says to me there is a lot of support for eliminating single use plastic bags,B次元官网网址� said Brice. B次元官网网址淥ur schools and young people have taken a lead in this important environmental shift.B次元官网网址�

VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 bylaw will restrict merchants from charging for or providing free plastic bags, except in specific situations. Retailers must first ask customers if they need a bag, and then charge 15 cents for a paper bag, or $1 for a reusable bag.

The bylaw will still allow merchants to offer customers small paper and other bags free for packaging live fish, bulk food, small hardware items, frozen foods, flowers and potted plants, prepared foods and bakery goods. Other items in this category include prescriptions, laundry and dry cleaning, newspapers or other delivered print material, and linens or bedding that cannot fit in a reusable bag.

Businesses can be fined between $100 and $1,000 while individuals can be fined from $50 to $500 for non-compliance.