Fuchsia Dragon | [email protected]
Just what makes a plastic bag 鈥榮ingle-use鈥�?
Jasper councillors have been discussing definitions for weeks following their idea to regulate single-use plastics in town.
And now they want more feedback.
The municipal council has drafted a bylaw and is opening public consultation for Jasperites and local business owners to give their opinions on the new scheme.
Councillor Helen Kelleher-Empey said: 鈥淲e have had the first reading of the bylaw and we are now open for more feedback.
鈥淲e will look at the feedback we get before doing a recommendation or go with the current bylaw.鈥�
The council wants to reduce how many single-use items go into our garbage and promote responsible and sustainable business practices that are consistent with the values of the community.
Under the new bylaw, businesses will be banned from providing customers with plastic bags unless it is to package loose bulk or small items, contain certain foods, protect prepared foods, wrap flowers, or contain prescription drugs.
They can provide a paper bag for 15 cents or reusable bag for $1.
Businesses guilty of contravening these rules will be guilty of an offence and ticketed.
The cost of the fine has not been outlined in the draft bylaw, but a previous draft version quoted $100, or $75 if paid within 30 days.
If the fine is not paid in the timeframe on the ticket, the business owner could be prosecuted.
Mayor Richard Ireland said: 鈥淚t is crucial for businesses to understand how this proposed law will affect them.鈥�
The bylaw, once approved, will come into effect on January 1, 2020, but council encourages voluntary compliance by July 1, 2019.
Kelleher-Empey said: 鈥淲rite us a letter or some and speak to us at a meeting. We sit here with open minds and want to her from everybody and then council will make a decision.We have opened it up for input from everybody and we look forward to receiving the comments.鈥�
Send your comments and opinions, addressed to mayor and council, to the municipal council at [email protected] or using the feedback form on the town鈥檚 website.
Keywords
A 鈥榗heckout bag鈥� is any bag used for transporting items received by a customer from a business, any bag used to package take-out food and includes paper bags, plastic bags and reusable bags.
A 鈥榩lastic bag鈥� is any bag made from plastic, including biodegradable or compostable plastic, but does not include a reusable bag.
A 鈥榬eusable bag鈥� is a bag with handles that is used for transporting items purchased or received by a customer from a business, designed and manufactured to be used at least 100 times, and primarily made from cloth or other washable fabric.
