Banning single-use plastic bags at Nanaimo retailers takes effect on July 1. (The Canadian Press)

By Ian Holmes

in the bag

City of Nanaimo commits to July 1 single-use plastic bag ban

Jun 7, 2021 | 6:05 AM

NANAIMO — Banning plastic checkout bags at Nanaimo retailers takes effect on Canada Day, while enforcement won’t be heavy-handed out of the gate.

The City’s zero waste coordinator Kirsten Gellein said a final round of messaging will be made to roughly 1,700 impacted businesses and the public during the lead-up to outlawing goods from being carried away in plastic bags.

The City previously indicated the July 1 bylaw launch may be pushed back due to the pandemic.

“We’re going to be working on making sure the public is aware of the changes coming and encourage everyone to bring their own bags when they go into stores and do their shopping,” Gellein said.

Reusable bags must be available for purchase at all Nanaimo retail outlets for $1 beginning July 1, increasing to $2 in 2022.

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Paper bags must also be an option for 15 cents per bag, which bumps up to 25 cents in the new year.

Compostable and biodegradable bags at checkout will also soon no longer be an option at Nanaimo stores as as some of those products micro-plastics harmful to the environment.

Gellein said moving away from single-use plastic bags will be launched softly.

“Of course we always want to start out with education first. If a complaint was received we’d reach out to the store and make sure that they’re aware of the bylaw and help them comply with the bylaw before fines would be considered.”

The City intends to back up the bylaw with fines beginning in the new year, Gellein said.

There are some exceptions to the bylaw, including bags for bulk food and produce, multi-packs of plastic bags and small paper bags.

Gellein emphasized environmental stewardship is important to people locally, pointing to Nanaimo having one of the lowest landfill disposal rates in the country and a strong recycling program.

City consultations in the spring of 2019 showed 65 per cent of local residents strongly supported banning plastic checkout bags, while most retailers already provided alternatives.

The Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce worked closely with the City to formulate the bylaw.

Chamber CEO Kim Smythe said the transition shouldn’t be too difficult since many consumers have used reusable bags for years.

“It’s almost automatic for many shoppers, they’re seen regularly walking into stores with their reusable bags.”

He said not only does the environment benefit from the bylaw, but so does the bottom line of businesses.

“It’s a big win-win for retailers, especially the smaller operators who aren’t buying as many plastic bags in bulk in order to free up cash flow.”

Nanaimo City Council approved the plastic bag bylaw in late February, shortly after receiving provincial government approval.

Last fall the federal government announced its intention to ban several single-use plastic items nation-wide by 2030, including checkout bags, straws and cutlery.

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On Twitter: @reporterholmes