WHEREAS the proliferation of free thin plastic bags has created negative impacts such as the need for expensive and inefficient waste management, the pollution of natural and human environments, the release of greenhouse gasses that increase our societys carbon footprint and an overall encouragement of inefficient single use consumption: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities request that the provincial government ban thin film plastic grocery bags.
Ministry of Environment The policy of the B.C. government respecting waste management and recycling is to shift responsibility for managing products at their end of life from local governments and the general taxpayer to industry and consumers under the provinces Recycling Regulation. Packaging, including disposable shopping bags, is one product category under consideration for a new provincial stewardship program. In September 2008 leading retail organisations in B.C. voluntarily committed to reduce the use of disposable shopping bags by half over the coming five years as well as to develop reuse and recycling options to address immediate concerns regarding disposable shopping bags. Given the commitment of the retail industry to take voluntary action the Ministry of Environment is not considering a provincial ban on disposable shopping bags at this time, but instead will monitor the success of this industry initiative.