One of the most picturesque places in Canada is implementing the country’s first municipal ban on single-use plastic water bottles to keep its oceans and shoreline free from trash.
A District of Tofino ban on single-use water bottles one-litre and less came into effect on Earth Day, April 22.
A news release from Tofino says single-use plastic bottles are among the most common items found in its local waterways and during shoreline cleanups.
Last August the district approved the ban, giving an eight-month period for local businesses to sell existing inventory and adjust their ordering practices. It’s something the district says local businesses have already been leaders on by selling reusable alternatives and offering free bottle refill stations.
Folks in Tofino will be able to access water bottle refill stations at local businesses, public facilities and through accommodation providers. Businesses in the district can also request “free water refills here” decals to display on their storefronts.
There will be exemptions to the ban on bottles for those sold in packaged multiples or flats, during declared emergencies and during Stage 3 water conservation.
Tofino has previously been a leader in getting rid of single-use items such as plastic bags, straws, utensils and polystyrene containers. The campaign to ban single-use water bottles began in August 2023 after a Surfrider Pacific Rim delegation pointed out the impact of single-use plastic bottles on the environment. During a presentation to council Surfrider representatives noted more than 60,000 plastic bottles had been recovered from regional, local and remote west coast beaches on Vancouver Island since 2015, and that 60 per cent of plastic bottles are never recycled, ending up in waterways and marine environments.
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