B.C. Liquor Stores to ditch plastic bags for paper starting next month
All 197 locations across the province will phase out plastic by March 2020
Your bottle of Sauvignon and cans of craft beer will now be bagged in paper bags instead of plastic at all B.C. Liquor Stores.
The B.C. government has selected Richmond-based bag manufacturer Bulldog Bag to provide paper bags to all 197 locations owned and operated by the province.
Vancouver Island stores will first make the switch on Nov. 25, followed by Metro Vancouver on Feb. 3, 2020. The rest of the province will convert by March 9, 2020.
The province says the switch is meant to curb growing plastic pollution, fuelled by single-use plastics. The B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch distributes about 22 million plastic bags per year to B.C. Liquor Stores throughout the province.
"Too often, single-use plastics end up polluting our oceans, waterways, parks and forests," B.C. Attorney General David Eby said in a statement.
"At a minimum, the action taken today will mean that there will be 22 million fewer plastic bags in the landfill."
The province will charge 10 cents per paper bag to encourage customers to bring their own reusable bags. Municipalities can choose to charge more if they want.
Stores will also give out one free reusable bags per customer for a limited time.
Bags 100 per cent compostable
The paper bags will have the strength to withstand a load of 7.5 kilograms — about six bottles of wine or a six-pack of beer and two bottles of wine.
The bags will contain at least 40 per cent recycled content and are 100 per cent recyclable and compostable.
The initiative comes after the B.C. government sought public feedback in the fall on actions to fight plastic waste, including a proposal to ban single-use plastics.
The Trudeau government intends to ban single-use plastics as early as 2021.
Salmon Arm, Tofino and Saanich have already introduced bans, while Victoria intends to challenge a B.C. Court of Appeal decision quashing its plastic bag ban.
Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie said he's proud to have a local business provide the paper bags provincewide.
"This effort to switch to paper from plastic is a big step toward protecting the environment and fits in well with our efforts through the National Zero Waste Council to advance waste prevention," he said in a statement.