Access KamloopsBCNow using your Facebook account, or by entering your information below.
Anyone who went through a drive-thru on Wednesday for breakfast and morning coffee were likely surprised about a lack of plastic cutlery. Reusable Chopsticks Set
That’s thanks to new regulations that have come into effect in BC, banning the use of certain single-use plastics.
As of Dec. 20, items like plastic spoons, forks and knives, chopsticks, stir sticks, drink splash plugs and pre-packaged bundled food service accessories will no longer be handed out in BC.
This is in addition to the federal government’s prohibition on the sale of plastic checkout bags, cutlery, stir sticks, straws and takeout containers that have also come into full force.
In BC, items like wooden utensils, cup lids and sleeves, straws, condiments, napkins, wet wipes and plastic garnishes like umbrellas in drinks are now only available upon request or from a self-serve station.
The Single-Use and Plastic Waste Prevention Regulation was announced in July of this year with a goal of limiting the use of plastic shopping bags, disposable food service accessories, oxo-degradable plastics, and food-service packaging made of polystyrene foam, PVC, PVDC, compostable and biodegradable plastics.
The ban on certain single-use plastics is part of the province’s CleanBC Plastics Action Plan.
Under the plan, businesses across BC will need to charge a fee for new reusable and new paper bags by July 15, 2024.
On that date, businesses will also no longer be allowed to use certain biodegradable plastic, Styrofoam, PVC and PVDC materials for food-service ware like bowls, boxes or cartons or film wrap.
By July 2028, the province will work to have PVC film wrap banned followed by the ban of polystyrene foam trays for meat or fish in 2030, which falls in line with the federal government's goals.
Spoon And Fork And Knife The rollout for those products was pushed back until alternatives are found.