After determining that reusable bags can be safely used, the City of Victoria reinstated its plastic-bag bylaw on Thursday.
Enforcement of the bylaw, initially adopted in 2018, was suspended in the early days of the pandemic when health officials recommended grocery stores and food retailers not allow customers to use their own bags amid fears that reusable bags could contribute to the spread of the virus.
Grocery and retail stores responded by offering customers plastic or paper bags for their purchases.
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps said reinstating the bag bylaw is a “simple step” to help reach the city’s goal to reduce waste by 50 per cent by 2040 and produce zero waste by 2050.
With the bylaw now back in effect, all businesses have the same requirements in place as previously, including restricting the use of plastic checkout bags and charging a fee for paper bags.
Before the bylaw’s implementation three years ago, it was estimated that Victorians disposed of 17 million single-use plastic bags annually.
Following the City of Victoria’s lead, more than 20 other municipalities across Canada, including Saanich, Esquimalt and Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, adopted similar bylaws.
parrais@timescolonist.com