Vancouver may be getting rid of single-use cup fees

Vancouver’s single-use cup fees may be going away, as the city’s council is set to take another look at the fee on Tuesday.

The city’s 25 cent per cup fee has been in place for over a year, and was introduced to encourage the use of reusable cups.

Early on, the fee was criticized for its failure to consider those with free drink vouchers, and its inability to reduce the amount of single-use cups going out.

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Now a motion put forward to the Vancouver City Council says they are thinking of getting rid of the fee.

“Given its failure to change consumer behaviour in the manner intended, it is incumbent upon Council to explore other policy options and pathways in order to achieve the desired and intended waste reduction outcomes,” the motion reads.

Councillor Rebecca Bligh says she heard of one person spending over $250 last year alone on single-use cup fees, and in that total, some of that money would’ve been completely out of their control.

“They would order on the app and they pick up in the drive-through and they won’t accept a reusable cup in that instance,” she explained.

Bligh adds if you’re going to a hockey game, grabbing a smoothie, or even going to the PNE, none of those places allow a reusable cup either.

The motion calls for the fee to be repealed sooner rather than later, with it suggesting Jun. 1 of this year as a deadline.

Council is scheduled to vote on Feb. 14.