性视界传媒 is the first city in the Metro Vancouver region to effect a ban on plastic checkout bags after council gave its final approval to its Plastic Bags and Single-Use Items Bylaw on Monday, Oct. 18.

鈥淚 want to congratulate staff for being the first out of the chute on this in the region,鈥� said Coun. Doug Elford, who sits on the zero waste committee for Metro Vancouver. 鈥淚 think they鈥檙e a little bit jealous.鈥�

Scott Neuman, 性视界传媒鈥檚 general manager of engineering, noted in a corporate report before council that businesses primarily affected by this are grocery stores, restaurants, bakeries, delis, coffee shops, concessions, street vendors and markets.

鈥淏y taking action on plastic bags and styrofoam,鈥� he told council, 鈥渢he city will eliminate the estimated 25 million plastic checkout bags and seven million foam containers and cups currently used annually throughout 性视界传媒.鈥�

November and December will see continued community outreach and education, with bylaw enforcement and ticketing to begin in January. As of Jan. 1, Neuman says, enforcement 鈥渨ill consist of a slow transition from compliance audits to warnings prior to the issuance of fines and penalties鈥� and 鈥渁fter this date, staff will utilize a gradual and discretionary enforcement approach with business that continue to be non-compliant.鈥�

READ ALSO: City of 性视界传媒 moves to ban single-use plastic bags after bylaw approved by province

鈥淚 believe we need to motivate and educate rather than condemn,鈥� Coun. Laurie Guerra said, 鈥渁nd inspire individuals to do the right thing when it comes to protecting our environment.鈥�

Council gave final approval to a new regulating bylaw to ban the 鈥渃ommercial provision and commercial distribution of plastic checkout bags, foam cups, and foam take out containers, with exceptions.鈥�

Coun. Mandeep Nagra said he would like city hall 鈥渢o play more ads on South Asian radio so that the whole South Asian community is aware of the new changes.鈥�

Mayor Doug McCallum said he鈥檚 been thinking 鈥渇or years鈥� that 鈥渨e need to cut back on these shopping bags and so-forth.

鈥淎nyone that鈥檚 seen pictures of all the plastic bags in a big huge pile in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, if you see that, you鈥檒l just see what the results are of these type of plastic bags when they get out into the environment and don鈥檛 break down.鈥�

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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