Plastic bags may soon be a thing of the past in Victoria.
Victoria City Council is considering a ban on the sale and distribution of plastic bags by Victoria businesses, and will be reviewing a draft bylaw by December. Businesses must first ask customers if they need a bag, and then charge 12 cents for a paper bag, or two dollars for a reusable one in the first draft of the law. Bags to package bulk food, prescriptions and dry cleaning are exempt. Businesses that charge less for a paper or reusable bags, that sell or provide plastic bags, or give any bag without first asking will be fined $100.
But the City doesnB次元官网网址檛 want to tackle this alone. Council is sending a letter to the CRD and neighbouring municipalities hoping for some consistency and regional support. A letter is also being sent to the provincial government.
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Coun. Geoff Young said having other municipalities on board will make it easier to enforce, and easier for people to adapt.
B次元官网网址淚 think there will be some people who express a negative reaction to [the law] and may decide they want to shop in another municipality,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t is certainly going to be a lot easier to implement this if we can have one information campaign for the entire region.B次元官网网址�
Young said a ban will mean people need to form new habits and change their lifestyles.
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B次元官网网址淭rying to force it on people is just going to be very difficult. ItB次元官网网址檚 like the requirements to pick up after dogs or to not smoke in bars,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey were fairly major changes in peopleB次元官网网址檚 behaviours, and they were achieved, but it was because there was broad public support.B次元官网网址�
Carolyn Whittaker of the Vancouver Island Surfrider Foundation attended the Committee of the Whole meeting Thursday and heard staffB次元官网网址檚 presentation on ideas for the new bylaw, and was satisfied with what she heard.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 happy with the outcome [but] I wish it was happening faster because I feel like everybody is on board and everyoneB次元官网网址檚 on the same page, and we all know what needs to be done,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淲hile we wait, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of bags are still continuing to end up in the wrong place and in the way streams.B次元官网网址�
The City is , which would come into effect July 1, 2018.
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