Port Moody council will determine tomorrow, June 25, whether the city’s bylaw banning the use of single-use plastics should be repealed.
But don’t pack away your reusable mugs and shopping bags just yet.
A staff report to be presented to council said subsequent provincial and federal legislation banning single-use plastics like shopping bags, straws and ring carriers, has made Port Moody’s bylaw redundant.
The city adopted its bylaw in October 2021 and it took effect April 22 the following year, which just happened to be Earth Day.
Port Moody was the first of the Tri-Cities to outlaw single-use plastics and businesses that failed to comply faced a fine of up to $10,000 if they continued to shirk the ban. A ticket for non-compliance issued by a bylaw officer could have resulted in a $1,000 penalty.
As part of its ban, Port Moody budgeted $10,000 for a campaign to inform residents and encourage them to bring their own containers or spend $2 for a reusable bag or 25 cents for a paper one.
The city was allowed to craft its bylaw after the provincial government amended the Community Charter in 2020 so local governments could ban single-use plastics without ministerial approval.
Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey and Victoria were among several communities that subsequently enacted bans.
