Qualicum Beach town council voted unanimously to regulate the sale of single-use plastic items in the town, in attempts to minimize the volume of plastic waste in the landfill, waste collection systems and litter.
The bylaw, read for a third time at a Feb. 25 meeting, states no retail business or food service business shall provide or sell a plastic bag to a customer and no food service business shall provide or sell a plastic straw to a customer.
RELATED: Qualicum Beach takes step closer to banning plastic bags
The bylaw does not apply to plastic bags used to package loose bulk items, small hardware items, wrap frozen foods, wrap flowers or potted plants, protect prepared foods or baked goods, contain prescription drugs and protect clothes after professional dry cleaning.
The bylaw also doesn’t apply to the sale of plastic bags intended for use at the customer’s home or business, provided that they are prepackaged and sold in packages of multiple bags.
RELATED: Parksville council won’t ban single-use plastic bags
The bylaw states that a person found guilty of an offence under this bylaw is subject to a fine of not less than $50 and not more than $5,000.
This bylaw comes into force on July 1, 2019.