qathet Regional District (qRD) is supporting proposed regulations to prevent single-use and plastic waste while encouraging the transition to more reusable options.
At the May 26 regional board meeting, directors endorsed a feedback letter to the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy regarding the CleanBC preventing single-use and plastic waste intentions paper issued by the province.
City director CaroleAnn Leishman said she wanted to thank regional district staff for getting the matter in front of board members.
“It’s a really important letter and it’s great work,” said Leishman. “I read through this and this is something that has been a stick in my side for about 12 to 15 years. I appreciate the advocacy and the work looking at this.”
Electoral Area E director Andrew Fall said the letter is important and these changes are good, but he wondered if there was anything else the regional district might be able to do.
Let’s Talk Trash team member Abby McLennan said now, with the federal government’s action plan and provincial government’s action plan, staff members are waiting to find out what the final regulations will be after feedback has been received.
“The advocacy work is pretty well done,” added McLennan. “In all of the documentation there is a phase two and a phase three, so if there are things that are lacking, or gaps, there is going to be an opportunity to have further action.”
In a letter to the province, Electoral Area A director and regional board chair Patrick Brabazon stated that regional district staff would like to see proposed provincial regulations strengthened and to provide comment for current and future consideration regarding checkout bags and food service packaging.
Regarding checkout bags, Brabazon stated that there should be consideration given to restricting the material of reusable bags to be constructed from natural fibre. The proposed guidelines currently require a reusable bag to be able to withstand a minimum of 100 washes, and there is a downstream litter effect associated with synthetic fibre in that with each wash, microplastic fibres are released, he added.
Brabazon also proposed that a higher percentage than 40 per cent recycled content for paper bags be considered. Bags provided for bakery or bulk items should be paper with a 60 per cent minimum of recycled content, he stated.
In terms of food service packaging, the province should consider different mechanisms of support for cup and takeout container share programs to further assist in facilitating establishment of these reuse programs, stated Brabazon in the letter. He added that polylactic, acid-lined coffee cups should be on the list of banned compostable plastic food service packaging.
“We commend the efforts being taken at a provincial level to help turn off the tap on the overwhelming flow of single-use and plastic waste that has been infiltrating the local economy, marketplace and environment,” stated Brabazon.
