Whereas waste from smoking cigarettes and vaping is unsightly, toxic to the environment and marine life, and is one of the most common sources of litter in many communities; And whereas awareness and enforcement campaigns, have been ineffective in addressing the problem, and public ashtray programs have had mixed success: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the Province to work with the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment CCME to include cigarette and vaping waste as a priority product category for extended producer responsibility in Canada, consistent with the 2019 Canada-Wide Action Plan on Zero Plastic Waste; And be it further resolved that the Province work with industry to implement a province-wide extended producer responsibility deposit-return program for cigarettes and vaping waste to eliminate litter generated by smoking.
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy The Province acknowledges that waste from cigarettes and vapes are toxic to the environment, marine life and communities and that proper management is a challenge for local governments. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy issued a Recycling Regulation Policy Intentions Paper in September 2020 that sought feedback on a number of items that were potential products to be captured under Extended Producer Responsibility, which included vaping products but not cigarette waste. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy received substantive feedback from key partners and stakeholders, which is summarized in the Recycling Regulation Policy Intentions Paper - Summary of Feedback gov.bc.ca and was made publicly available in June 2021. This will inform the subsequent development of a multi-year plan for Extended Producer Responsibility in BC. We continue to actively work in partnership with the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment CCME on Extended Producer Responsibility priorities addressed by federal, provincial and territorial governments. Links Recycling Regulation Policy Intentions Paper: https:www2.gov.bc.caassetsgovenvironmentwaste-managementorganic-wastere… Recycling Regulations Policy Intentions Paper - Summary of Feedback: https:www2.gov.bc.caassetsgovenvironmentwaste-managementorganic-wastere…