Regina’s ban on plastic bags to take effect Feb. 1

Starting Feb. 1, Regina residents will no longer be getting plastic bags at stores’ checkout counters.

The City of Regina announced Tuesday its bylaw banning plastic bags will take effect that day. City council passed the bylaw in July of 2020, but said at the time the ban wouldn’t take effect until the COVID-19 pandemic was under control.

On Tuesday, the city said the ban won’t take effect if public health officials determine reusable bags are a transmission concern in a health emergency.

“We are joining municipalities across the country in our move to ban plastic checkout bags and become a more sustainable city,” Coun. Bob Hawkins said in a media release.

“Regina residents made it clear that this is the right move. Over 10,000 residents took part in public engagement on this initiative, and 77 per cent indicated that the reduction of single-use plastic items is an important issue to them.”

The ban applies only to bags used at checkout counters. Other in-store plastic bags such as those used for bulk foods, fruits and vegetables are still permitted.

The bylaw doesn’t set out alternatives to plastic bags, meaning businesses and customers can choose their own methods for carrying the items.

The city is sharing details of the bylaw with businesses and has created a kit for them to tell their customers of the change.

“We are providing time for plastic bag users to get in the habit of bringing their own reusable bags to stores before the ban takes effect in February,” Kim Onrait, the city’s executive director of citizen services, said in the release.

“By switching to reusable bags or containers, the amount of plastic waste ending up in our landfill, in our recycling processing facility and littered throughout our community will be reduced.”

For more information or to see a copy of the new bylaw, visit Regina.ca/plastic.