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Municipal bylaws for single-use plastics

Last updated on December 6, 2024

People in British Columbia are taking action to reduce plastic pollution and its impact within their communities and the larger environment.

Find out how B.C. municipalities can support these efforts as part of the province’s transition to a circular economy. 

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Single-use plastic bylaws

The single-use plastics bylaws are created under part 3 of the Spheres of Concurrent Jurisdiction: Environment and Wildlife Regulation (PDF, 591KB).

This regulation:

  • Provides authority for municipalities to regulate specific single-use and plastics items
  • Encourages a consistent approach to make it easier for citizens and businesses operating in different municipalities to comply
  • Supports the transition to a more circular economy for plastics in B.C.

Municipalities can choose to regulate all or some of these items:

  • Shopping bags
  • Food service accessories
  • Food service ware
  • Oxo-degradable plastics

These single-use and plastic items are consistent with the provincial Single-Use and Plastic Waste Prevention Regulation. 

Local government guide

To find out more about how the province and local governments work together to create bylaws, visit the local government and provincial concurrent authority webpage.

Impact of provincial plastic regulation on municipal bylaws

The Single-Use and Plastic Waste Prevention Regulation provides a Provincial framework to: 

  • Phase out certain single-use and plastic items 
  • Address waste and pollution in B.C. 

Municipalities can continue to set their own bylaws to address single-use and plastic waste in their communities. This may include stricter requirements than in the Provincial regulation. 

Participating municipalities

The following municipalities have adopted a single-use plastics bylaw. Visit the municipality’s website for more information.

Municipalities with bylaws for single-use plastics

Expand All | Collapse All
 

City of Nanaimo

Items:

  • Plastic bags

Implementation date: July 1, 2021

Website: City of Nanaimo

 

City of Revelstoke

Items:

  • Plastic bags
  • Straws
  • Polystyrene foam serviceware

Implementation date: July 1, 2022

Website: City of Revelstoke

 

City of Richmond

Items:

  • Plastic bags
  • Straws
  • Polystyrene foam serviceware

Implementation date: March 27, 2022

Website: City of Richmond

 

City of Rossland

Items:

  • Plastic bags

Implementation date: March 8, 2021

Website: City of Rossland

 

City of Surrey

Items:

  • Plastic bags
  • Polystyrene foam serviceware

Implementation date: October 19, 2021

Website: City of Surrey

 

City of Victoria

Items:

  • Plastic bags (effective April 15, 2021)
  • Food ware accessories such as utensils, stir sticks, condiments and straws must be distributed only by request (effective December 5, 2024)
  • Businesses must use only reusable products for dine-in services (effective March 5, 2026)

Website: City of Victoria Checkout Bag Regulation Bylaw, City of Victoria Single-Use Items Reduction Bylaw

 

District of Oak Bay

District of Oak Bay

Items:

  • Plastic bags

Implementation date: November 24, 2022

Website: District of Oak Bay

 

District of Saanich

Items:

  • Plastic bags

Implementation date: August 20, 2021

Website: District of Saanich

 

City of Salmon Arm

Items:

  • Plastic Bags

Implementation date: July 1, 2022

Website: City of Salmon Arm

 

District of Sooke

Items:

  • Plastic bags

Implementation date: May 22, 2022

View bylaw: District of Sooke

  • Checkout Bag Regulation Bylaw
 

District of Squamish

Items:

  • Plastic bags
  • Polystyrene foam serviceware
  • Straws
  • Single-use plastic utensils

Implementation date: August 15, 2022

Website: District of Squamish

 

District of Tofino

Items:

  • Plastic bags
  • Straws
  • Polystyrene foam serviceware
  • Single-use plastic utensils

Implementation date: June 8, 2019

  • Provisions regarding polystyrene came into effect on April 13, 2021
  • Provisions regarding single-use utensils came into effect on February 22, 2022

Website: District of Tofino

 

District of Ucluelet

Items:

  • Plastic bags
  • Straws
  • Polystyrene foam serviceware
  • Single-use plastic utensils

Implementation date: October 13, 2020

  • Provisions regarding polystyrene came into effect on April 14, 2021
  • Provisions regarding single-use utensils came into effect on March 15, 2022

Website: District of Ucluelet

 

Town of Sidney

Items:

  • Plastic bags
  • Straws
  • Polystyrene foam serviceware
  • Single-use plastic utensils

Implementation date: January 1, 2023

View bylaw: Town of Sidney

  • Single Use Plastics Bylaw No. 2231
 

Town of View Royal

Items:

  • Plastic Bags

Implementation date: April 22, 2022

Website: Town of View Royal

 

Township of Esquimalt

Items:

  • Plastic bags

Implementation date: August 16, 2021

Website: Township of Esquimalt

 

Village of Harrison Hot Springs

Items:

  • Plastic bags
  • Straws
  • Polystyrene foam serviceware
  • Single-use plastic utensils

Implementation date: January 1, 2023

View bylaw: Harrison Hot Springs