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Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Elected as a Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for the Constituency of Saanich South on May 12, 2009. New Democratic Opposition Critic for the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. Raised on Quadra Island and has an undergraduate degree from the University of British Columbia. Extensive track record as a community leader, advocate and environmental activist.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

CFAX reports on the CRD decision.....

C.R.D. WILL NOT BAN PLASTIC SHOPPING BAGS

May 28, 2008

THE CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE HAS DECIDED THAT NO ACTION IS NEEDED TO RESTRICT THE USE OR DISPOSAL OF PLASTIC SHOPPING BAGS.

AND, THE COMMITTEE DECIDED IT WOULD NOT BE WORTH THE COST TO COLLECT PLASTIC BAGS AS PART OF THE BLUE BOX PROGRAM.

"TO DO SOMETHING SYMBOLICALLY AT A COST OF A HALF-MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR ISN'T JUSTIFIABLE WHEN WE'RE DIVERTING JUST ONE PERCENT OF THE WASTE FROM THE WASTE STREAM," SAYS COMMITTEE CHAIR SUSAN BRICE.

BUT BRICE SAYS ONCE THE CURRENT CONTRACT WITH THE PICKUP COMPANY LAPSES IN 2012, MORE MATERIALS ARE LIKELY TO BE ADDED TO THE BLUE BOX LIST.

"THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE AT THIS POINT WAS NOT DESIGNED TO HANDLE THAT THIN PLASTIC SUBSTANCE," SAYS BRICE.

"I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT AS WE ADVANCE INTO THE NEXT ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS THAT THERE WILL BE MORE PRODUCTS PICKED UP BY THE RECYCLING -- AND UNDOUBTEDLY PLASTIC BAGS, IF THEY'RE STILL IN EXISTENCE AT THAT POINT, WHICH I'M SURE TO SOME EXTENT THEY PROBABLY WILL BE, WILL BE INCLUDED."

SAANICH ACTIVIST LANA POPHAM HAS BEEN LOUD AND CLEAR IN HER DEMAND FOR A PLASTIC BAG BAN, BUT SHE SEEMED TO BE BACKING OFF A BIT AFTER WEDNESDAY'S ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING.

"THAT'S A LITTLE BIT AGGRESSIVE, MAYBE," SAYS POPHAM. "PUTTING A DEPOSIT ON THAT BAG, SO WHEN YOU DO DECIDE THAT YOU WANT TO USE A PLASTIC SHOPPING BAG, YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN PAY 25-CENTS AND GET THAT. AND IF YOU BRING IT BACK, YOU'RE GOING TO GET YOUR 25-CENTS -- MAYBE THAT'S A WAY TO HELP US GET THROUGH THIS DECISION-MAKING PROCESS."

IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED THE PROVINCE COULD ORDER THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR TO CHARGE A DEPOSIT ON EACH PLASTIC BAGS GIVEN OUT AT THE TILL.

POPHAM ACCUSES THE REGIONAL GOVERNMENT OF LACKING LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.

"I STARTED AT THE MUNICIPALITY LEVEL, WENT TO THE C.R.D., GOT THROWN BACK TO THE MUNICIPALITY, BACK AT THE C.R.D., AND NOW WE HAVE TO ASK THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT," SAYS POPHAM. "WELL THAT'S FINE, BUT THE AVENUE FOR ASKING THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT IS ALSO ABOUT RECYCLING. I AM UNCLEAR WHERE THE REDUCTION FITS INTO THIS. SO MAYBE IT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE ALL COMMUNITY INITIATIVE."

STILL, POPHAM SAYS THE AMOUNT OF ATTENTION BEING GIVEN TO THIS ISSUE IS HELPING TURN THE TIDE WITH SHOPPERS.

"I THINK IT'S YOUR OBLIGATION TO TAKE A RE-USEABLE BAG [TO THE STORE]," SHE SAYS. "IT'S YOUR CHOICE, BUT I THINK PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO MAKE THAT CHOICE. THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO GET THAT IDEA."

PRESENTLY, THERE ARE MORE THAN 50 LOCATIONS AROUND THE CAPITAL REGION WHERE PLASTIC BAGS CAN BE DROPPED OFF FOR RECYCLING, FREE OF CHARGE -- MOST OF THEM GROCERY STORES.

- IRELAND