Port Moody has set a target of next year to ban the use of single-use plastics by city businesses.
At its virtual meeting last Tuesday, council passed a motion directing staff to begin working on a plan that would achieve that goal.
Mayor Rob Vagramov said it’s important for the city to signal its intentions so businesses can begin preparing.
“I’m not interested in waiting on this at all,” he said. “I just want to go full speed ahead on this one.”
Coun. Zoe Royer agreed, adding an early start by the city to get the process rolling will make it easier for businesses to get on board once the COVID-19 pandemic emergency has passed and life starts returning to normal
But Coun. Amy Lubik, whose earlier motion to postpone tasking staff to work on a ban plan until next year was defeated, said council still must be mindful of current pressures on businesses and city staff because of the public health emergency.
“Right now there’s not a lot of businesses allowing people to bring in their own containers or reusable bags, and we don’t know how long that will go on,” she said.
Coun. Diana Dilworth also urged patience.
“We have to be really sensitive to business owners who are desperately trying to keep their doors open right now and pay their employees,” she said, adding it may also be more difficult for them to source alternatives to plastic as manufacturers focus on more urgent needs like producing personal protective equipment.
In a targeted survey of Port Moody businesses the city conducted by mail in the spring of 2019, 65% of respondents said they had no concerns about eliminating single-use plastics, but they did worry about increased costs, inconveniencing customers and the challenges of finding appropriate alternatives. Many also said they were already taking steps to reduce their use of plastics.
City manager Tim Savoie told council it would likely take staff several months to prepare a report for its consideration as many have been deployed to help out with the city’s pandemic response.
“We’ll do it as fast as we can,” he said.
