When Chilliwack's fast-food establishments started charging for paper bags in the drive-thrus two years ago, complaints started arriving in the city hall inbox.
Things have changed recently with provincial rules no longer requiring restaurants to charge for paper bags in the wake of banning plastic bags through plastic reduction initiatives.
Chilliwack council voted Tuesday (July 2) to repeal its single-use item plastic reduction bylaw, in recognition of the changes at the provincial level.
The topic came up this week in council chambers with Coun. Nicole Read clarifying for the public, that this repeal-the-bylaw vote on single-use items "doesn't mean that we're repealing all climate initiatives" and they're still moving ahead on those.
Tara Friesen, manager of environmental services, explained that when the city came out with its single use bylaw in 2022, there were no regulations in place yet from the provincial or federal governments on single-use items and plastic reduction.
But since then there's been action taken at both levels.
"One of the big concerns to come out of our bylaw was the requirement for, particularly at the drive-thrus, charging fees on paper bags.
"We continue to get those complaints. But with the new provincial regulation that fee will not apply," Friesen said.
Council has expressed its concerns to the province previously in a letter. Since then provincial officials decided not to make those fees mandatory with exemptions provided under the new provincial regulation, Spheres of Concurrent Jurisdiction - Environment and Wildlife Regulation.
Mayor Ken Popove asked if the paper-bag money supposed to go toward environmental conservation efforts.
"It was a challenge," Friesen replied to the mayor, noting the rules did not allow those fees to be remitted back to the city.
"So it was viewed as businesses profiting," Friesen added.
Coun. Bud Mercer asked if the fast-food restaurants are now required to give away the paper bags.
Friesen said there wasn't anything prohibiting restaurants from charging bag fees, but they are no longer required to charge for them, whereas previously, they were.
Asked if the change was a "good thing?" by the councillor, the staffer said: "I don't think it's going to change things."
At the end of the council discussion, it was resolved that city communications officials would be working on a document to clarify the new rules further for the public.
"That will maybe stop the flow of emails," Popove added.