Plastic Bags and Single-Use Items Bylaw

UPDATE: Plastic Bags and Single-use Items Bylaw No. 8075 was repealed by Delta Council on December 11, 2023, effective December 20, 2023. The regulations in this bylaw are being replaced by the Province's Single-Use and Plastic Waste Prevention Regulation. See "Provincial Update" below for details.

Delta’s Plastic Bags and Single-Use Items Bylaw No. 8075 came into effect June 6, 2022. The Bylaw includes:

• Banning plastic checkout bags (including biodegradable and compostable);
• Introducing a charge of $0.25 per paper checkout bag and $2.00 per reusable checkout bag; and
• Banning foam service ware for prepared food (such as foam plates, clamshell containers, bowls and cups).

The Plastic Bags and Single-use Items Bylaw was adopted by Delta Council to help reduce unnecessary waste and plastic pollution, and the ban affects all businesses operating in the City of Delta. This bylaw is consistent with bans in other BC municipalities, as well as regulations and guidelines developed by the provincial government and Metro Vancouver.

Regional Update

A summary of the new provincial and federal single-use regulations, including helpful resources for businesses, has been prepared by Metro Vancouver and is available here: https://metrovancouver.org/services/solid-waste/single-use-item-regulations

Provincial Update

The Province of BC announced a new Single-Use and Plastic Waste Prevention Regulation on July 14, 2023. The Regulation will come into force on December 20, 2023, with some regulations coming into effect later. It provides a consistent province-wide regulatory framework and is designed to complement and expand on the actions taken by BC municipalities and the federal government. The Regulation includes:

• A ban on single-use plastic shopping bags, with minimum fees for paper bags and reusable bags
• A ban on single-use plastic utensils
• A ban on foodservice packaging made from compostable plastics, biodegradable plastics, PVC, PVDC and polystyrene foam
• All packaging made from oxo-degradable plastics
• Requiring single-use food service accessories to be made available only by request or opt-in
• Providing exemptions for reasons of accessibility, affordability, or if no suitable alternative is available

To learn more about the province-wide regulation:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/waste-management/zero-waste/plastics#bans

Federal Update

The federal government has enacted Single-Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations which prohibit the manufacture, import and sale of six categories of single-use plastics: checkout bags, cutlery, foodservice ware made from or containing problematic plastics, straws, ring carriers and stir sticks. The regulations prohibiting manufacture and import began on December 20, 2022 and those prohibiting sales will begin on December 20, 2023 (the timeline varies for plastic ring carriers). To learn more about the Regulations coming into force and the timelines, see the federal overview webpage.

Why Ban Single-Use Items?

Single-use items are unnecessarily wasteful and can be damaging to the environment. Some single-use items are not easily recycled, like foam containers, and others, like plastic bags, often end up in the landfill rather than at a recycling depot. Many plastics can take centuries to decompose and can injure wildlife. There are alternative products that are easier to recycle and less impactful to the environment. Avoiding single-use items altogether and choosing reusable materials is our goal for a more sustainable Delta.

Resources for Businesses

• Plastic Bags and Single-Use Items Bylaw Guide & Toolkit (Punjabi; Chinese)
• Alternative Products Supplier List
• Poster (Punjabi; Chinese)

Tips & Resources for Residents

• Bring a bag; bring reusable shopping bags when you shop to save money and reduce waste
• Recycle or compost paper shopping bags in your recycling or organics cart
• Reuse paper shopping bags for shopping or in your kitchen catcher to reduce odours
• Recycle or compost your takeout containers in your recycling or organics cart
• Reuse plastic takeout containers at home for leftovers when possible
• Metro Vancouver – Tips to reduce use of single-use items

Bylaw Regulations

Foam Food Service Ware

• The City of Delta “…hereby prohibits all businesses within the City of Delta from selling or otherwise providing single-use supplementary polystyrene foam service ware containers“, – Bylaw No. 8075.
• Effective June 6, 2022, businesses in Delta must not sell or provide prepared food in any foam food service ware container, which includes but is not limited to plates, cups, bowls, trays, cartons and hinged or lidded containers. Prepared food is any food or beverage prepared for consumption by a customer. It does not include raw, uncooked food such as meat, seafood, eggs or vegetables unless provided for consumption without further food preparation.
• Exemptions:
  • This ban does not apply to hospitals or any facility licensed as a community care facility under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act as these facilities have special health safety requirements.
  • Prepared food containers that have been filled and sealed outside of the City of Delta prior to arrival at a business location are permitted.

Plastic Checkout Bags

• The City of Delta “…hereby prohibits all businesses within the City of Delta from selling or otherwise providing supplementary plastic checkout bags other than reusable checkout bags and used bags”, – Bylaw No. 8075
• Effective June 6, 2022, plastic checkout bags are banned with some exemptions as noted below. This includes any bag made of plastic, including biodegradable or compostable plastic, that is intended to be used by the customer for the purpose of transporting items purchased or received from the business, or intended to be used to package take-out or delivery food.
• Exemptions:
  • Businesses can provide a plastic checkout bag to a customer if the bag has been returned to the business for the purpose of being reused by other customers. This is intended to support charitable organizations and thrift stores who commonly use this practice to cut costs for their customers and reuse materials already in circulation.
  • Plastic bags may be used as packaging for:
    1. Loose bulk items such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains or candy;
    2. Loose small hardware items such as nails or bolts;
    3. Meat, poultry, fish and frozen foods;
    4. Flowers or potted plants;
    5. Prepared foods or bakery goods that are not pre-packaged;
    6. Transporting live fish;
    7. Linens, bedding or similar fabric household items;
    8. Newspapers or other printed material intended to be left at a residence or place of business; or
    9. Clothes after professional laundering or dry cleaning.
  • Plastic bags may be sold in packages of multiple bags for use at a customer’s home or business.