Single-Use Item Reduction Strategy

Waste snapshot

• Around 2 million plastic shopping bags are disposed in the garbage in Vancouver each week (63% are reused as garbage bags).
• Plastic bags make up 3% of shoreline litter and 2% of large litter items in Vancouver streets, parks, and public spaces.
• Paper bags make up 1% of large street litter items.
• Plastic bags harm marine life and are made using non-renewable fossil fuels.
• It can take anywhere from 10-10,000 years for a plastic shopping bag to decompose.
• Paper bags actually cause more harmful greenhouse gas emissions over their lifetime than plastic bags because of manufacturing processes and they are heavier to transport.

What we heard

• During Phase 2 of consultation, many businesses asked for the flexibility to create their own plans for reducing plastic and paper shopping bags. 
• The public consistently expressed support for strong action on bags, such as a plastic bag ban or higher fees for paper bags.

We will

We will introduce the following priority actions for plastic and paper shopping bags. Additional actions are listed in the Single-Use Item Reduction Strategy. 

Why we think it’s a good idea

• This approach applies equally to all plastic and paper shopping bags, and to all businesses using bags, which ensures a level playing field.
• Communities that have implemented plastic bag bans typically only ban thin plastic bags, and sometimes only from grocery stores and pharmacies. Thicker, “reusable” plastic bags are still allowed in most communities with plastic bag bans. 
• Communities that have implemented fees or taxes on bags have seen immediate and significant results.
• Our strategy begins by allowing flexibility for businesses to develop a reduction plan that works for them, while including commitments to evaluate the need for stronger regulatory measures like bans or specified fees if dramatic results aren’t achieved.

Waste snapshot

• Expanded polystyrene foam (sometimes called “thermal”) cups and take-out containers are only recyclable if they are not contaminated with leftover food or mixed with other materials like paper, plastics, glass, or grit. 
• The only option for recycling foam cups and containers in Vancouver is to drop them off at depots or stores, however, only 6% of Vancouver residents say they will take foam containers to a recycling depot.
• 1% of large litter on Vancouver streets is made of polystyrene cups and containers.
• Small foam pieces made up 9% of items collected in Vancouver shoreline cleanups in 2016.

What we heard

• During Phase 2 of consultation, we heard clear support from the public for a ban on polystyrene cups and take-out containers. Support for a ban was heard from: 
  • 90% of individuals who filled out a comment form
  • 78% of respondents in a public opinion survey 
  • More than 77% of respondents in an online survey
• In Phase 3 of the consultation, the public once again expressed strong support for a ban on single-use polystyrene foam cups and take-out containers and wanted to see it implemented quickly. 
• Not all stakeholders were in support of a ban:
  • Plastics industry representatives would rather see improved foam collection and processing.
  • Some restaurateurs expressed concerns around an increase in operating costs related to switching to alternative materials. 
  • Others believed customers would not be willing to pay additional money to help businesses switch to more environmentally friendly alternatives. However, based on opinion research, 82% of Vancouver residents would be willing to pay more for reusable options or single-use items that could be recycled in household or apartment recycling programs.

We will

Why we think it’s a good idea

• Throughout our consultation process, we heard overwhelming support for a ban on polystyrene cups and containers.
• There is no workable alternative. There are currently no viable programs for recovering and recycling polystyrene cups and take-out containers in household or apartment programs, and residents are unwilling to clean and deliver them to depots for recycling.
• Small businesses and social services agencies requested support with the transition, especially in terms of translated materials, education, and outreach.

Waste snapshot

• Disposable cups include polycoat paper cups (such as coffee cups) and plastic cups.
• 2.6 million polycoat paper cups are thrown in the trash in Vancouver every week.
• Nearly 50% of garbage collected from public waste bins are disposable cups and take-out containers.
• 22% of litter on Vancouver streets are disposable cups, lids, and sleeves.
• Recycle BC accepts polycoat paper cups in its household and apartment recycling program, but many businesses do not accept them because their waste collection companies struggle to access recycling markets.

What we heard

• During Phase 2 of consultation, many businesses asked for the flexibility to create their own plans for reducing disposable cups. 
• The public were supportive of fees on disposable cups:
  • 64% of public opinion survey respondents supported fees on cups
  • 70% of respondents in an online survey supported fees on cups
• The public were supportive of making businesses responsible for the single-use item waste they produce.
  • 89% of public opinion survey respondents and 96% of online  survey respondents were in support of requiring quick-serve restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops to provide recycling for the disposable items they give out. 
• The business community expressed concern about an unspecified fee and how businesses would determine a rate that was consistent with their competitors as well as customer satisfaction. There were also concerns around any additional costs they may incur.

We will

Why we think it’s a good idea

• Businesses and the business community are generally in support of action on disposable cups. 
• It is important to work with industry to implement sustainable initiatives for cup reduction.
• A reduction plan will drive overall reduction, while still providing flexibility for businesses to choose a plan that works for them.
• A reusable travel mug exchange network allows for convenience without the waste.

Waste snapshot

• Reduction and reuse alternatives for take-out containers are not well developed in Vancouver.
• Quick-serve and take-out restaurants generally serve meals in disposable containers, as many of these restaurants don’t have space for commercial dishwashers or storage for dishes. 
• Health codes currently prevent restaurants from filling take-out orders in containers brought in by customers unless they have a documented procedure, approved by their local Health Authority.
• Nearly 50% of all garbage collected from public waste bins is take-out containers and disposable cups.
• Compostable and recyclable packaging materials often get mixed up when discarded, contaminating both streams and making them impossible to process. This means they get disposed to landfill and incinerator.

What we heard

• A public opinion survey found that: 
  • 84% of public opinion survey respondents and 87% of online survey respondents believe quick-serve restaurants or cafés should provide reusable dishware for eating in
  • 82% of public opinion survey respondents would be willing to pay more for take-out containers that are recyclable in household or apartment recycling programs
• The public were generally supportive of making businesses responsible for the single-use item waste they produce.
  • 96% of online survey respondents and 89% of public opinion survey respondents were in support of requiring quick-serve restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops to provide recycling for the disposable items they give out. 
• The business community expressed concerns around any additional costs they may incur.

We will

Waste snapshot

• Plastic straws and stir sticks make up about 3% of shoreline litter in Vancouver.
• Plastic straws and utensils can fall through screens on recycling sorting lines that are designed to remove contaminants. 
• Plastic straws and utensils have a significant potential to contaminate compost.
• Compost facilities have difficulties processing compostable plastic straws and utensils because they take a long time to break down.
• Plastic straws and utensils have negative impacts on marine life and the environment.

What we heard

• During Phase 2 of consultation, we heard strong support from stakeholders and the public to include single-use straws and utensils in the strategy. We also received a petition from more than 110 businesses asking the City to reduce or eliminate plastic straws.
• We heard from the Persons with Disabilities Advisory Committee, the Seniors’ Advisory Committee, and social service providers in the Downtown Eastside, who highlighted the need for durable straws to be allowed for people with musculoskeletal and oral health care needs.
• During Phase 3, we consulted the public on a proposed action to require businesses to ask customers if they want a straw before giving them on.  
  • The public and some environmental groups felt this proposed action was not strong enough.
  • Some businesses were concerned this action was impractical, would aggravate their customers, and may have the unintended consequence of increasing the number of straws distributed.
• During Phase 3, the public asked for more action on utensils. Stakeholders indicated support for requiring businesses to only give out disposable utensils when requested by the customers.

We will

Why we think it’s a good idea

• Public support for strong action on straws and utensils
• Throughout our consultation process we heard overwhelming support from the public, businesses, and stakeholder groups for strong action to be taken to reduce or eliminate plastic straws in Vancouver. Many businesses are already asking customers before distributing them.
• There are alternatives to single-use plastic straws and utensils, such as compostable and stainless steel options, that make it easier for businesses to offer substitutes or customers to bring their own.