Carry out plastic bags will be banned throughout the city if the bylaw is approved in November.
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July 09, 2019 - 4:45 PM
KAMLOOPS - Kamloops City Council took their first big step toward a plastic bag ban bylaw.
Councillors approved a draft of the bylaw, the first step in eventually banning plastic carryout bags. If it's eventually approved and enacted, the ban would cover plastic bags, including compostable and biodegradable varieties that have handles. It anticipates exclusions around specific forms of plastic bags such as small bags for produce and small hardware, and protective plastic bags for larger items like bedding and dry cleaning.
After some four months of research, community engagement and discussions with business owners, the bylaw will be presented to councillors again. At that time, the bylaw may be revised according to engagement results and research.
The City of Kamloops will use Victoria’s plastic bag bylaw as a model. The City of Victoria had to recently defend the bylaw in the B.C. Supreme Court after the Canadian Plastic Bag Association challenged the bylaw. The association claimed the city had no right to enact the ban because it was an environmental regulation that requires provincial approval. Victoria won the battle, claiming it was a business regulation plan.
The City of Kamloops could get a plastic bag ban as soon as spring 2020.
Click here for more information on the draft bylaw.
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