Comox council has taken one step closer to banning single-use plastic bags and straws within the town.
A motion put forth by Coun. Nicole Minons at Wednesday’s council meeting was unanimously approved to direct staff to prepare a report on banning single-use plastic bags and plastic straws.
Minions referenced a previous council delegation in January by two Valley nurses – Betty Tate and Helen Boyd – and noted their tireless advocacy around the ban.
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“It was something that people were passionate about during election time, and in addition to the economic and societal impacts, (a ban) goes much deeper.”
She added 10 to 15 per cent of the Comox Valley landfill is made up of plastics.
“What would a six-month implementation look like? We don’t have to wait for the provincial and federal governments.”
Minions noted a ban on all single-use packaging including styrofoam and coffee cups is a long-term goal, but said the first step would be a ban on plastic bags and straws.
Coun. Alex Bissenger amended the original motion to include plastic produce bags and noted only two grocery stores in the town would be affected, which also passed unanimously.
Comox’s municipal counterpart in Cumberland has directed staff to prepare a Single-Use Item Regulation Bylaw to be implemented no earlier than July 1, 2019.
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