Vancouver bubble-tea vendors get one-year exemption from straw ban
Credit to Author: Scott Brown| Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2019 23:00:54 +0000
Vancouver city council will vote Wednesday on a bylaw that will ban most plastic straws by April 2020.
The bylaw calls for a ban on plastic straws, including compostable plastic straws, and require that all accessible straws, the bendable ones wrapped in paper, be handed out only if a customer asks for one.
If approved, the bylaw will come into effect April 22, which is Earth Day.
In its report to council city staff recommends a one-year ban exemption for plastic straws served with bubble tea in order to allow businesses to find alternatives.
“Many residents consider drinking bubble tea to be part of their cultural identity. Businesses that sell bubble-tea drinks were among the most dependent on plastic straws and are highly concerned about impacts to their business if they cannot find ways to serve bubble tea that do not require plastic straws,” the report said.
Staff is also recommending a city-wide ban on plastic shopping bags beginning Jan. 1, 2021. Paper bags would be required to contain at least 40 per cent recycled content and would come with a 15 cent fee. The fee will jump to 25 cents after one year.
Disposable cups are being hit with a fee of at least 25 cents, and vendors will only be able to give out single-use utensils, made of any material, by request only.
“The timing of implementation balances the urgency to take action on public litter, zero waste and plastic pollution with the availability of viable alternatives, the need to avoid negative impacts to businesses, provide suitable time for them to prepare, address potential negative impacts to marginalized residents and allow the city to raise public awareness of the coming changes through communications and outreach campaigns,” the report states.