Effective December 20, 2022, the manufacture and import for sale of the following harmful single-use plastics in Canada will be prohibited:
checkout bags
cutlery
foodservice ware made from, or containing, problematic plastics that are hard to recycle
stir sticks
straws (with some exceptions)
The ban on the manufacture and import of ring carriers will enter into force in June 2023.
Recycle BC Program Changes
Single-use and packaging-like products are now accepted by Recycle BC in the CRD Blue Box program and at drop-off depots. Some examples of these newly accepted items include:
Recyclable with paper (Blue Bag):Paper party décor (paper decorations, signs, hats, tablecloths, pinatas)Cardboard moving, filing boxes
Recyclable with containers (Blue Box):Plastic plates, bowls and cupsPaper plates, bowls and cups (with thin plastic lining)Plastic cutlery and strawsPlastic food containers
Recyclable with flexible plastics (Depot Only):Plastic sandwich and freezer bagsPlastic shrink wrapFlexible plastic drop sheets and coveringFlexible plastic bubble wrap (no bubble wrap-lined paper)
The change is the result of an amendment to the BC Recycling Regulation. Previously, only plastic, metal and glass packaging, and paper products were included in the Recycle BC program. This change expands the accepted material list to include items that are used as packaging or a single use but were purchased as a product.