The District of Sooke Council is considering adopting a Checkout Bag Regulation Bylaw, following the examples set by the City of Victoria and the Township of Esquimalt.
Plastic bags cost approximately 17 cents in clean-up costs, which include fuel, worker pay, disposal, and other similar components. Many residents of Sooke are concerned with the environmental impacts of plastics, including plastic bags. Some local Sooke businesses have already demonstrated that they take this matter seriously.
The Checkout Bag Regulation Bylaw will prohibit the use of single-use plastic bags but not include small paper bags or plastic bags used to package: loose bulk items, contain or wrap produce and frozen foods, wrap flowers, protect linens, protect clothes from dry cleaning, etc.
The Bylaw is proposed to come into effect on January 1, 2020, providing an opportunity for businesses to use up checkout bags on hand.
There will be an opportunity for public input at the regular Council meeting on June 10, 2019 at 7:00 pm in Council Chambers, 2225 Otter Point Road, Sooke, BC. If you are unable to attend the meeting in person to express your views, you can submit your comments in writing via corp@sooke.ca, via fax at 250-642-0541 or in person to Sooke Municipal Hall, 2205 Otter Point Road, Sooke, BC no later than 12:00 noon on Monday, June 10, 2019.
All District of Sooke business license holders will receive notification of the upcoming opportunity to speak to Council regarding the proposed bylaw.
For more information regarding the proposed bylaw, please see: May 13 Staff Report re: Proposed Checkout Bag Regulation Bylaw