Reducing Single-Use Plastic Bags

Plastic bags pollute the environment including our parks, trails and shorelines. The Town of View Royal is taking action to help reduce the amount of plastic waste entering our landfill and contaminating our environment. 

The Town's Checkout Bag Regulation Bylaw (the Bylaw) bans the distribution of most single-use plastic bags in businesses and requires retailers to charge for new checkout bags. To create consistency for businesses and customers, the Bylaw essentially mirrors other checkout bag bylaws from the Township of Esquimalt, the District of Saanich, and the City of Victoria. 

Highlights of the Bylaw

The Checkout Bag Regulation Bylaw requires businesses to:

  • Eliminate the distribution of new single-use plastic bags
  • Charge a fee of no less than $0.25/bag for paper bags or a fee of no less than $2.00/bag for reusable bags to encourage customers to bring their own reusable bags
  • If a customer needs a bag(s), distribute checkout bags that meet the following specifications:
    • Paper bags: made from paper and containing at least 40% post-consumer recycled content and display the words “Recyclable” and “Made from 40% post-consumer recycled content" or other applicable amount on the outside of the bag (excludes small paper bags
      ie. less than 15cmX20cm when flat)
    • Reusable bags: must have handles, be made primarily of cloth or other washable fabric, and be designed/manufactured to be capable of at least 100 uses
  • Exceptions apply for transporting some products like bulk foods, produce, prepared foods or bakery items, frozen foods, small hardware items, prescription drugs from a pharmacy, flowers/plants, live fish, newspapers/printed material to be left at a residence/business, dry cleaning, or bulky items like linens or bedding that cannot easily fit into a reusable bag

Businesses Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Background

Read the February 15, 2022 Council Report for background information on the development of the Bylaw.


For more information: