Single-Use Items

Federal and provincial regulations that reduce the distribution and use of single-use items come into effect in December 2023.

The District has deferred local single-use item regulation and is advancing its single-use item reduction objectives by supporting local businesses in understanding and adapting to the federal and provincial regulations.

For example, a Sustainable Foodservice Purchasing Guide was created in partnership with the District and City of North Vancouver to help local foodservice businesses understand and adapt to upcoming single-use item regulatory changes.

Sustainable Foodservice Purchasing Guide

Background

In response to Council’s strategic objective to reduce community and corporate waste, including the reduction of single-use items, the District started developing a Single-Use Item Reduction Strategy.

Due to the impacts of COVID-19, consultation and development of a Single-Use Item Reduction Strategy for West Vancouver was suspended. For more information about the consultation process, please visit:
www.westvancouverite.ca/singleuse

The District is currently advancing its single-use item reduction objectives by supporting local businesses in understanding and adapting to the federal and provincial regulatory changes.

More information about single-use item reduction, including links to the provincial and federal regulations, examples of local single-use item reduction initiatives, and resources for residents and businesses is provided in the sections below.

Single-use items are designed to be used once for a short period of time and then discarded. There are many types of single-use items, from diapers and cigarette butts to disposable pedicure flip-flops. However, the most commonly targeted materials for single-use item reduction strategies include shopping bags and items commonly associated with food service or take-out.

Why single-use item reduction?
Focusing on reducing and reusing single-use items, over recycling and disposal, creates less litter, reduces collection costs, and decreases the resources needed to produce single-use items in the first place.
The responsibility for developing regulations or restrictions on the unnecessary use of single-use items is shared by multiple levels of government. In Canada, federal and provincial governments have powers to develop regulations directed at environmental protection. Provincial regulations such as the Community Charter or Environmental Management Act define the limited roles of regional and local governments.

Both provincial and federal governments have passed new regulations to reduce the distribution and use of single-use items such as plastic shopping bags, straws and utensils. Both regulations will be implemented in December 2023.

Provincial regulations

Federal regulations

The District supports provincial and federal action to reduce the use of single-use items and recognizes the importance of consistent regulations throughout the province and across the country.
Ocean Ambassadors Canada - Zero Waste Programs

Starting in 2022, the District collaborated with Ocean Ambassadors Canada (OAC) and the other North Shore municipalities to launch a free Zero-waste Coaching for Small Businesses program for local businesses. The program provided local businesses with support on how to reduce single-use items, how to improve recycling and compost practices, and other zero-waste tips and tricks. Nearly 20 West Vancouver businesses participated in the program.

OAC is also offering “Lunch & Learn” webinars for offices in the Metro Vancouver region. These free webinars intend to help office workers understand the growing problem of single-use item waste and simple steps they can take at work and in their community to reduce their impact.

In spring 2019, the Horseshoe Bay Business Association in partnership with OAC launched an initiative to go “Beyond Plastic Bags” in Horseshoe Bay Village. This project resulted in 28 of the seaside village’s 35 businesses switching away from single-use plastic bags in favour of offering consumers paper or reusable ones.
- Visit Ocean Ambassadors Canada
Metro Vancouver Superhabits campaign

Metro Vancouver and other regional governments in B.C. do not have the authority to restrict the sale and use of single-use items. However, Metro Vancouver has played a key role in facilitating information sharing, collecting data about single-use items, and developing public education programs, including the regional “Superhabits” campaign, which encourages residents to say no to single-use and choose reusable alternatives.
- Visit Metro Vancouver
Repair Café

The primary goal with single-use items is reduction. When reduction is not possible, repair and reuse are the next best thing. A Repair Café is a free community event that brings people together to learn how to fix basic household items with the help of experienced volunteers.

The District hosted its first repair café event in 2020 and three subsequent events in 2021 in collaboration with the West Vancouver Memorial Library and non-profit Metro Van Repair Cafés. Stay tuned for more information about future events.
- West Vancouver repair café aims to give broken items a second life
Student Video Contest

In 2020, the District challenged West Vancouver students to create videos about single-use item reduction. We received many inspiring videos reminding the community of creative ways to reduce waste and avoid the unnecessary use of single-use items where possible, even during a pandemic. Watch all of the videos on the student video webpage.
- 2020 Student Video Contest
Public Space Recycling Programs

The District launched a streetside recycling program in commercial areas in 2019 and a parks recycling program in 2023. All public space recycling programs accept several single-use items for recycling, including disposable drink cups and plastic cutlery. Please do your part to dispose of waste responsibly, whether you're in a park, municipal facility, or on the sidewalk.

Remember, bins don’t recycle - people do! Please sort your materials correctly to ensure it gets recycled
- Public Spaces
Love West Van

The District launched Love West Van, an initiative that encourages residents and businesses to get involved in local stewardship projects such as litter clean up events. Whether you want to clean up your neighbourhood, the shoreline, or a park, our community benefits when we all work together.
- Love West Van
Clean Shoreline Community

The District joined the Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanup in 2018 and officially became one of the first municipalities in Canada to be designated a Clean Shoreline Community. Learn more and organize your own cleanup.
- Clean Shoreline Community

Single-Use Items

Background

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