District to enforce plastic bag ban in Squamish from August 15

District of Squamish Council has amended the Single-Use Items Reduction Bylaw that will ban the use of plastic bags in Squamish. The bylaw changes will also regulate additional single-use items including plastic straws, plastic takeout utensils and foam takeout containers.

Plastic single-use straws will be made available to those who require them for health, medical or disability reasons. A plastic, bendable straw must be provided by the business in this case upon request by any customer.

Bylaw enforcement will begin on August 15, 2022 following a six-month period to allow time for the District to provide education to businesses and the community. These six months will also allow for businesses to exhaust any existing supplies of plastic check out bags and source alternatives to the newly banned items.

“Reducing the use of plastics in our recycling and waste streams will bring major environmental benefits to our community in the form of reduced waste, less ocean plastic and less contamination in our recycling streams,” said Mayor Karen Elliott.

“Many businesses have already encouraged the use of reusable items and updating this bylaw will move us closer to reaching our goal of zero waste by 2040 and anticipated changes coming in 2023 from the Provincial and Federal governments on single-use items. This bylaw is aimed at inspiring behavioural shifts amongst all citizens many of us will find it challenging for a while, but the new habits we form will have lasting environmental benefits.”

Under the updated bylaw, the following items are not permitted to be distributed or sold at checkout:

Plastic checkout bags

Plastic utensils

Plastic straws

Polystyrene foam takeout containers

Plastic stir sticks

Exemptions to the bylaw include the provision of plastic or paper bags to package items such as loose bulk and hardware items, frozen foods such as meat, and prescription drugs.

For a full list of exemptions visit squamish.ca/reduce-single-use.