Single-Use Item Reduction Bylaw

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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.

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    Reusable Takeout Containers

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