Vancouver approves ban on plastic straws, foam cups

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VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Plastic straws and foam take-out cups will soon be a thing of the past in Vancouver, as the City has approved a new zero waste plan.

Single-use straws and polystyrene foam cups will be banned, effective June 1, 2019. That date comes six months earlier than originally proposed, as well as providing additional funding for outreach and education to support small businesses during the transition.

Mayor Gregor Robertson says the “Zero Waste 2040 Strategy” is a big step to make Vancouver the world’s greenest city.

“Cities around the world recognize the detrimental impact of plastic waste on our environment and are taking bold steps to cut down or eliminate waste through bans and innovative reusable programs,” says Robertson.

“In Vancouver, we’re hearing strong support from local businesses, environmental groups and the general public and I’m confident that this comprehensive strategy will help us become a clean, zero-waste city.”

The city says if the goals are not by 2021, it will completely ban plastic bags and single-use cups.

According to the city, 2.6 million paper cups and two million plastic bags are thrown into the garbage in Vancouver every week.

Cups and take-out containers make up nearly 50 per cent of all items in public garbage bins. Straws and stir sticks make up about two per cent of garbage on the shoreline.

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