Foam ban

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  Council approves transition to federal and provincial single-use regulations

  Expand for details.

  Federal and provincial single-use regulations began on December 20, 2023. These regulations align with, and extend beyond, our single-use item by-laws.

  To avoid overlap and simplify compliance for businesses and non-profits, we will no longer regulate single-use items. The responsibility will now be handled by the federal and provincial governments. 

  We're removing our single-use item by-laws in 2 phases:

  • April 9, 2024: foam containers, plastic straws, single-use utensils and plastic shopping bags
  • July 15, 2024: paper and reusable shopping bags

  We will notify businesses, residents and other stakeholders in the coming weeks regarding the transition to federal and provincial single-use regulations, and how this change will affect them.

  Transitioning to the federal and provincial regulations is a significant achievement for us. We have led the development of comprehensive single-use regulations in Canada. Recognizing we can’t solve the problem of single-use waste and plastic pollution alone, Council and staff have advocated for these federal and provincial regulations.

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  Provincial regulations

  On December 6, 2023, the BC government announced it is phasing in the Single-Use and Plastic Waste Prevention Regulation External website, opens in new tab in stages:

  • December 20, 2023: Food service accessories like utensils, straws, stir sticks, cup lids and sleeves, condiments, napkins, wet wipes and garnishes
  • July 15, 2024: Shopping bags, food service ware (take-out containers) and oxo-degradable plastics
  • July 1, 2028: PVC film wrap
  • July 1, 2030: Polystyrene foam meat trays

  Learn how the Province is phasing in the BC regulation alongside the federal regulations PDF file (593 KB)

  Find more details and resources like guidance documents, posters, and a guide to acceptable alternatives External website, opens in new tab

  Federal regulations

  The Government of Canada enacted the Single-use Plastic Prohibition Regulations External website, opens in new tab to ban the sale and distribution of these single-use plastic items:

  • As of December 20, 2023: Shopping bags, cutlery, straws, stir sticks and take-out containers made from specific “problematic” plastics 
  • As of June 20, 2024: Ring carriers and flexible plastic straws attached to beverage containers

  On November 16, 2023, a federal court struck down the legal basis for these federal regulations. The federal government is appealing this ruling. The provincial regulations overlap with the federal regulations (except for ring carriers and plastic straws) and are not affected by the federal court ruling.

  For more details and resources like technical guidance and fact sheets, review the Government of Canada’s overview of the regulations. External website, opens in new tab

  Questions?

  • For help with provincial regulations, email Plastics@gov.bc.ca
  • For help with federal regulations, email PlastiquesUU-SUPlastics@ec.gc.ca

Complying with the by-law

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  What is banned

  Food vendors are banned from serving prepared food and beverages in foam cups and foam take-out containers. 

  The ban includes cups, plates, bowls, trays, cartons and hinged (“clamshell”) or lidded containers. 

  The ban applies to foam cups and foam take-out containers use for food:

  • Consumed on the premises
  • Served as take-out or delivery
  • Packaged as leftovers

  This may include foods like soups, stews, curries, sushi, fried food, sauces, salads, deli foods, or sliced veggies meant to be eaten without further cooking.

  Review the by-law

  • By-law 12416 (amends By-law 4450 regarding polystyrene foam) PDF file (16 KB)
  • By-law 12604 (amends By-law 4450 regarding charitable food services) PDF file (14 KB)
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  Who the ban applies to

  All food vendors with a Vancouver business licence must comply with the foam ban. Food vendors are businesses, charities, and not-for-profits that:

  • Sell prepared food (food meant to be eaten without further cooking), or;
  • Provide food for free or at low cost (temporary exemptions apply)

  This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Arenas
  • Bakeries
  • Bars, lounges
  • Bed and breakfasts
  • Breweries
  • Cafés and tea shops
  • Caterers
  • Community centres
  • Concessions
  • Convenience stores
  • Delis
  • Drugstores
  • Food courts
  • Delivery services (that sell food)
  • Food manufacturers
  • Food retailers
  • Food trucks
  • Food vendors at festivals and events
  • Food wholesalers
  • Grocery stores
  • Halls
  • Limited service food establishments
  • Liquor establishments
  • Private schools
  • Market outlets
  • Not-for-profit corporations
  • Registered charities
  • Restaurants
  • Street food vendors
  • Theatres
  • Venues
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  Exemptions

  Hospitals and community care facilities

  The foam ban does not apply to food service to patients in hospitals or food service to residents of community care facilities.

  Important information The foam ban does apply to food vendors with a Vancouver business license whose premises are located in hospitals or community care facilities (example: cafeterias, cafes) that serve prepared food to customers. 

  Charitable food services: 1-year exemption

  Given the extenuating circumstances of COVID-19, we are using discretion on when and where to enforce Vancouver’s by-laws to reduce single-use items. Within this discretion, charitable food services may continue to distribute single-use items with food or meals during COVID-19.

  Charitable food services are expected to begin working towards complying with the by-laws as soon as it is possible for them (either during or after COVID-19).

  Important information Organizations must be incorporated and in good standing under the Society Act, or registered as a charitable organization under the federal Income Tax Act to qualify for the charitable food services exemption.

  Foam trays used to package uncooked food

  The foam ban does not apply to foam trays used for uncooked meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, or vegetables that require further preparation before they are eaten.

  The foam ban also does not apply to prepared foods packaged and sealed outside of Vancouver in foam cups and foam take-out containers.

  Selling packages of foam cups and foam containers

  Retailers are still permitted to sell packs of multiple foam cups or foam containers for personal use.

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  Suggested alternatives: what to choose instead

  We encourage you to source reusable alternatives or single-use packaging that can be: 

  • Recycled in the Recycle BC residential recycling program External website, opens in new tab
  • Composted in the green bin

  Review suggested alternatives:

  • English PDF file (898 KB)
  • 繁體中文 PDF file (1.4 MB)
  • 简体中文 PDF file (1.5 MB)
  • ਪੰਜਾਬੀ PDF file (1.7 MB)
  • Tagalog PDF file (1.8 B)
  • Tiếng Việt PDF file (2 MB)
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  Ask your supplier

  • We would like to provide reusable dishware to our customers. What options do you sell?
  • What cost-effective, single-use packaging do you offer that is accepted in Recycle BC’s residential recycling program or the City Green Bin organics program?
  • Of these accepted options, what items are suitable for hot liquid dishes like soups and sauces?
  • The City has confirmed that plastic that is labeled or described as compostable, degradable (biodegradable, oxodegradable, photodegradable), or bioplastic not accepted in the City Green Bin organics program. What certified compostable items do you offer that are accepted in the City Green Bin organics program?
  • Can you confirm these options do not contain plastic made from plants or other biological materials, such as corn or sugar cane?
  • If the new packaging we switch to does not work for us, is there flexibility to switch to another option that is accepted in the Recycle BC’s residential recycling program or the City Green Bin organics program?
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  Myth busting: compostable and degradable plastics

  It’s time for some myth busting. You might be surprised to find out what happens to these items after your customers are done with them. 

  Fact 1

  Plastic that is labeled or described as compostable, degradable (example: biodegradable, oxodegradable, photodegradable), bioplastic, or made from plants or other biological materials:

  • Is not accepted in the green bin
  • Contaminates existing composting and recycling streams
  • Is not approved for composting under provincial regulation
  • Is not designed to biodegrade if littered in the natural environment

  Fact 2

  Plastic that is labeled or described as compostable or degradable is also not accepted in Recycle BC’s residential recycling program External website, opens in new tab.

  Fact 3

  As contaminants, plastics that are labeled or described as compostable, degradable, or made from plants are most likely to be removed from composting and recycling streams and then disposed to landfill or incinerator.

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  Reducing business costs 

  Cost-effective alternatives to foam are available. In our research, we’ve learned that packaging prices vary depending on material type, volume purchased, and supplier.

  We suggest that you reach out to your supplier to source the most affordable alternative(s) available that can be recycled in Recycle BC’s residential recycling collection program or composted in the City Green Bin organics program. 

  Discuss group buying

  To reduce your overall costs, we do encourage you to discuss group buying options with:

  • Similar businesses to yours
  • Your local restaurant association 

  Group buying may help you and other businesses save money. 

  Use fewer containers

  Another way to reduce costs is to use as few containers as possible.

  For example, you can ask your dine-in customers if they’d like to have their leftovers packaged in as few single-use containers as possible, rather than packaging leftover dishes separately.

  You can also encourage your dine-in customers to bring their own reusable containers for taking home any leftovers.

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  Enforcing the rules

  Due to the extenuating circumstances of COVID-19, City staff are prioritizing outreach and education to ensure businesses have the support they need in order to comply with the single-use item by-laws.

  If a business is found to be out of compliance with the single-use item by-laws that are in effect, our initial actions will focus on education, outreach, and support to help them comply.

  Following these initial education actions, increasing levels of enforcement may be applied to address non-compliant operators. Enforcement may include issuing tickets, which carry a fine of $500 per offence. The provision for the $500 fine is in the Ticket Offences By-law No. 9360 PDF file (218 KB).

  Further prosecutions in provincial court could be subject to a maximum fine of $10,000 per offence. 

  Ongoing non-compliance may also result in business licence suspensions, or recommendations for business licence revocation.

  Information icon Charitable food services may continue to distribute single-use items with food or meals during COVID-19. Charitable food services are expected to begin working towards complying with the by-laws as soon as it is possible for them.