Information for businesses, charities, and not-for-profits

Complying with the by-laws

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  Reducing single-use items during COVID-19

  The health and safety of residents, businesses, and their staff are a priority for us and we continue to work to ensure all our single-use item by-laws align with current public health guidelines.

  For the latest COVID-19 health requirements and resources, visit:

  • Office of the Provincial Health Officer External website, opens in new tab
  • British Columbia Centre for Disease Control information for food businesses External website, opens in new tab
  • Vancouver Coastal Health environmental health and inspections External website, opens in new tab
  • Work Safe BC External website, opens in new tab
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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 City Green Bin organics program

  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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  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 City Green Bin organics program
  • 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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  Food delivery services

  Food vendors located in Vancouver must comply with the single-use item by-laws, including sales through food delivery services. 

  All food delivery service providers should update their online, mobile, and telephone ordering platforms for food vendors located in Vancouver to ensure that customers:

  • Can request utensils
  • Can request flexible plastic straws wrapped individually in paper (if needed for accessibility)
  • Are charged for any beverage cups, paper shopping bags, or reusable shopping bags, and the fees are reflected on receipts
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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, initial City 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.

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  Federal regulation of single-use items

  The federal government is proposing to regulate single-use items External website, opens in new tab as early as 2021.

  We will continue to advocate for federal regulations that meet the highest standards and align with our by-laws.

  If the federal government proceeds with its regulations, City Council may consider how these regulations affect its by-laws and change them. Until then, Vancouver business licence holders are required to comply with the City’s single-use item by-laws.