National

Businesses to charge a minimum fee on single-use cups: City of Vancouver

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 03 Mar, 2022 01:54 PM

Vancouver councillors have voted narrowly to keep a 25-cent single-use cup fee for all takeout drinks sold in the city — but council tweaked the rules to ensure the fee doesn't hurt low-income residents or keep companies from implementing reusable options.

The charge was imposed January 1st — in part to reduce some of the estimated 80-million coffee and beverage cups thrown away in Vancouver every year — but unintentionally added costs to meal voucher recipients or those using gift cards or reward programs.

News release: City makes refinements to ground-breaking cup by-law.
Learn more ➡️ https://t.co/a5d0UZThJE pic.twitter.com/em71yFaqYx
— City of Vancouver (@CityofVancouver) March 3, 2022

As of March 29th, the fee will be waived in those situations and for cups of water while all businesses will be required to accept reusable cups by July.

Councillors have also voted to support creation of a low barrier cup-share program to help low-income residents cope with the added environmental fees.

Photo courtesy of IStock.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

School-based vaccination could be key: doctors

While nearly three-quarters of kids in the Atlantic province have had their first shot, Health Canada says the national average is less than half — a shortfall that in-school vaccination programs could help address, says pediatric infectious disease physician Karina Top.

School-based vaccination could be key: doctors

Smuggling arrest after bodies found near border

A Florida man has been charged with human smuggling after the bodies of four people, including a baby and a teen, were found in Manitoba near the United States border. The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota said Steve Shand, 47, appeared in court earlier Thursday.

Smuggling arrest after bodies found near border

B.C. flood victims eligible for new support Feb. 1

The B.C. government says in a news release that beginning Feb. 1, evacuees receiving Emergency Support Services since the Nov. 15 storms will be offered the expanded help through the Canadian Red Cross.

B.C. flood victims eligible for new support Feb. 1

2,150 COVID19 cases for Thursday

There are 34,835 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 265,765 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 891 COVID-positive individuals are in hospital and 119 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

2,150 COVID19 cases for Thursday

B.C. high school snuffs out wildfire logo

The Lillooet Secondary School administration says in a letter to families the wildfire logo holds a different meaning after the fatal blaze that burned through Lytton, and the nearby Elephant Hill fire in 2017 that destroyed more than 100 homes.

B.C. high school snuffs out wildfire logo

Amardip Singh Rai wanted on 17 charges including sexual assault

Amardip Singh Rai is described as a 42-year-old South Asian Male, 5’11, slim build, with brown eyes, black hair and often has facial hair. He has tattoos including roses on his hands, scroll with words on his neck, a cancer ribbon on his neck and a tiger on his chest.