It could soon get a lot harder to find a straw in Vancouver
Posted May 11, 2018 10:17 am.
Last Updated May 11, 2018 8:05 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Vancouver may be considering a ban on plastic straws after all.
A revised report to city council recommends implementing one in November 2019.
If approved, staff will then consult further, especially with health groups who have raised concerns about an all-out ban in the past.
“When the city developed this strategy, we consulted with our citizens for persons with disabilities advisory committee as well as senior’s advisory committee,” says Monica Kosmac, Senior Project Manager for the Zero Waste program. “And we learned that durable straws are important for people who may have muscular, skeletal disabilities, or they need them for oral health care.”
Based off a report in the US that found roughly 500 million straws were tossed out across that country every day, Kosmac estimates about seven million are trashed in the City of Vancouver weekly.
Previously, the city had said it wasn’t considering an all-out ban, but rather would encourage businesses to try to reduce the number of straws being handed out.
Groups that advocate for people living with disabilities say it’s discriminatory because some need straws to consume beverages.
The proposal is part of Vancouver’s commitment to become a Zero Waste city by 2040, a goal Branch Manager of Solid Waste Strategic Services Chris Underwood admits is an ambitious plan.
“And I think that’s what’s needed. It’s clear that recycling alone isn’t going to get us to zero waste,” he says. “I think it’s clear that there are a lot of valuable resources which are being thrown away, and a lot of valuable reusable resources which are actually going for recycling which could be reused.”
When asked whether the city was setting itself up for failure with such a goal, Underwood says it’s what’s needed in terms of a bold vision.
“When we look at the amount of material that we expect will be generated by 2040, despite all the success we’ve had with recycling programs, it’s clear that more action is needed.”
The report goes to city council May 16.
