Single-Use Item Reduction Bylaw

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Consultation has concluded

The City of Chilliwack is taking action to reduce single-use items in our community. Single-use items have become increasingly common in our day-to-day lives and result in an overwhelming amount of litter, environmental harm, and waste to landfill. Consultation undertaken in 2019, 2020, and 2021 found high levels of support for actions aimed at reducing single-use items in Chilliwack and informed the Single-Use Item Reduction Strategy approved by Council in December 2020, and updated in September 2021.

As part of the Single-Use Item Reduction Strategy, the City’s comprehensive Single-Use Item Reduction Bylaw will target the items below, from April 1, 2022.

Item

Reduction Measures in Bylaw

Shopping Bags

Plastic

Ban

Paper

Minimum fee ($0.15 in 2022, increasing to $0.25 in 2023)

ReusableMinimum fee ($1 in 2022, increasing to $2 in 2023)

Beverage Cups

Plastic

Not included in bylaw at this time due to lack of provincial legislation; reduce through education

Paper

Not included in bylaw at this time due to lack of provincial legislation; reduce through education

Foam

Ban

Take-Out Containers

Plastic

Not included in bylaw due to public health restrictions; reduce through education

Paperboard

Not included in bylaw due to public health restrictions; reduce through education

Foam

Ban

Straws

Plastic

Ban; unless requested for accessibility needs

Paper

By request only

Disposable Utensils

Plastic

Ban

Other (e.g. wood)

By request only


The Single-Use Item Reduction Bylaw was adopted by Council on September 21, 2021. We are now providing education in the lead up to the implementation of the bylaw on April 1, 2022. Educational posters and detailed FAQs aimed at helping businesses comply with the bylaw are available on the City's Single Use Item Reduction Strategy Webpage.

Single-Use Items and the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Single-Use Item Reduction Bylaw will take effect on April 1, 2022, followed by increases to some fees on January 1, 2023. However, the City will continue monitoring the response measures to the pandemic, including Provincial Health Orders that may restrict or prevent the use of reusable alternatives to single-use items. Should the need arise, the City will amend the timelines in the bylaw closer to the implementation date.

The City of Chilliwack is taking action to reduce single-use items in our community. Single-use items have become increasingly common in our day-to-day lives and result in an overwhelming amount of litter, environmental harm, and waste to landfill. Consultation undertaken in 2019, 2020, and 2021 found high levels of support for actions aimed at reducing single-use items in Chilliwack and informed the Single-Use Item Reduction Strategy approved by Council in December 2020, and updated in September 2021.

As part of the Single-Use Item Reduction Strategy, the City’s comprehensive Single-Use Item Reduction Bylaw will target the items below, from April 1, 2022.

Item

Reduction Measures in Bylaw

Shopping Bags

Plastic

Ban

Paper

Minimum fee ($0.15 in 2022, increasing to $0.25 in 2023)

ReusableMinimum fee ($1 in 2022, increasing to $2 in 2023)

Beverage Cups

Plastic

Not included in bylaw at this time due to lack of provincial legislation; reduce through education

Paper

Not included in bylaw at this time due to lack of provincial legislation; reduce through education

Foam

Ban

Take-Out Containers

Plastic

Not included in bylaw due to public health restrictions; reduce through education

Paperboard

Not included in bylaw due to public health restrictions; reduce through education

Foam

Ban

Straws

Plastic

Ban; unless requested for accessibility needs

Paper

By request only

Disposable Utensils

Plastic

Ban

Other (e.g. wood)

By request only


The Single-Use Item Reduction Bylaw was adopted by Council on September 21, 2021. We are now providing education in the lead up to the implementation of the bylaw on April 1, 2022. Educational posters and detailed FAQs aimed at helping businesses comply with the bylaw are available on the City's Single Use Item Reduction Strategy Webpage.

Single-Use Items and the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Single-Use Item Reduction Bylaw will take effect on April 1, 2022, followed by increases to some fees on January 1, 2023. However, the City will continue monitoring the response measures to the pandemic, including Provincial Health Orders that may restrict or prevent the use of reusable alternatives to single-use items. Should the need arise, the City will amend the timelines in the bylaw closer to the implementation date.

Consultation has concluded

  • How Did We Get Here?

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    In December 2019, the City of Chilliwack conducted an extensive public consultation campaign, followed by consultation with businesses in January 2020. Consultation efforts focused on public and commercial use and reliance on single-use items, as well as attitudes towards reducing their prevalence in Chilliwack. Online surveys facilitated input from residents and businesses with over one thousand responses, and staff led several face-to-face open houses and a business workshop.

    Consultation found that public support for single-use item reduction initiatives was high, with most residents stating that action needs to be taken, including education and bylaws regulating their use. Businesses' feedback indicated a willingness to implement measures that make it easier for customers to bring in reusable alternatives and support for regulation.

    For more information on the consultation process, read the Engagement Summary Report here.

    Following consultation, the City of Chilliwack developed a progressive bylaw in March, 2021, that targeted a range of single-use items. Provincial legislation at the time required that the City submit its bylaw to the Province of British Columbia for Ministerial approval. A second consultation effort was conducted following submission of the bylaw to the Province to ascertain feedback on the contents and timelines of the bylaw. Over 80% of public respondents were in favour of the bylaw and businesses were mostly in support with some expressing concerns about meeting the implementation date of January 1, 2022.

    In July 2021, the Province enacted legislation that enabled municipalities in B.C. to adopt bylaws related to particular single-use items. The City updated its bylaw to reflect these new requirements, including extending the start date to April 1, 2022, and removing regulations related to paper and plastic beverage cups. Single-Use Item Reduction Bylaw 2021 No. 5062 was adopted in September, 2021, and the City sent a letter to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy encouraging the Province to fast track regulations that will enable local governments to enact bylaws related to single-use beverage cups.

    In December 2019, the City of Chilliwack conducted an extensive public consultation campaign, followed by consultation with businesses in January 2020. Consultation efforts focused on public and commercial use and reliance on single-use items, as well as attitudes towards reducing their prevalence in Chilliwack. Online surveys facilitated input from residents and businesses with over one thousand responses, and staff led several face-to-face open houses and a business workshop.

    Consultation found that public support for single-use item reduction initiatives was high, with most residents stating that action needs to be taken, including education and bylaws regulating their use. Businesses' feedback indicated a willingness to implement measures that make it easier for customers to bring in reusable alternatives and support for regulation.

    For more information on the consultation process, read the Engagement Summary Report here.

    Following consultation, the City of Chilliwack developed a progressive bylaw in March, 2021, that targeted a range of single-use items. Provincial legislation at the time required that the City submit its bylaw to the Province of British Columbia for Ministerial approval. A second consultation effort was conducted following submission of the bylaw to the Province to ascertain feedback on the contents and timelines of the bylaw. Over 80% of public respondents were in favour of the bylaw and businesses were mostly in support with some expressing concerns about meeting the implementation date of January 1, 2022.

    In July 2021, the Province enacted legislation that enabled municipalities in B.C. to adopt bylaws related to particular single-use items. The City updated its bylaw to reflect these new requirements, including extending the start date to April 1, 2022, and removing regulations related to paper and plastic beverage cups. Single-Use Item Reduction Bylaw 2021 No. 5062 was adopted in September, 2021, and the City sent a letter to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy encouraging the Province to fast track regulations that will enable local governments to enact bylaws related to single-use beverage cups.

    Consultation has concluded

  • Federal and Provincial Action on Single-Use Items

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    Both the Federal and Provincial Governments have announced plans to manage plastic waste that include many plastic single-use items. In June 2020, the Federal Government publicized its intent to reduce plastic pollution in Canada, which includes banning some harmful single-use plastics as early as the end of 2021. The Province of British Columbia has supported municipal efforts to regulate single-use items by amending the Community Charter to enable local governments to adopt single-use item bylaws without Provincial approval.

    More information on the Federal Government’s actions are available here.
    More information on the Provincial Government’s actions are available here.

    Both the Single-Use Item Reduction Strategy and Single-Use Item Reduction Bylaw are aligned with the legislation and proposals made by higher levels of government. The City will amend its strategy and bylaw to comply with and build on the efforts of the Federal and Provincial governments.

    Both the Federal and Provincial Governments have announced plans to manage plastic waste that include many plastic single-use items. In June 2020, the Federal Government publicized its intent to reduce plastic pollution in Canada, which includes banning some harmful single-use plastics as early as the end of 2021. The Province of British Columbia has supported municipal efforts to regulate single-use items by amending the Community Charter to enable local governments to adopt single-use item bylaws without Provincial approval.

    More information on the Federal Government’s actions are available here.
    More information on the Provincial Government’s actions are available here.

    Both the Single-Use Item Reduction Strategy and Single-Use Item Reduction Bylaw are aligned with the legislation and proposals made by higher levels of government. The City will amend its strategy and bylaw to comply with and build on the efforts of the Federal and Provincial governments.

    Consultation has concluded