Saanich Coun. Ned Taylor has taken what could be the first step toward banning single-use plastic-foam cups and takeout containers in Greater Victoria.

Taylor has given notice of a motion calling on Capital Regional District staff to investigate and draft a model bylaw which could be used by local municipalities to ban the single-use plastic-foam, also known by brand name Styrofoam.

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The motion, introduced with the support of Salt Spring Island director Gary Holman, will be debated by members of the CRD’s parks and environment committee this month.

“I’ve heard support amongst my council in Saanich and councill members in other jurisdictions in the region. I’ve heard support for banning other single-use waste items — not just single-use bags — but other single-use waste items as well.

“So I imagine if the CRD did create this model bylaw, it would perhaps see municipalities adopt that model bylaw,” Taylor said.

He said the mechanics of banning plastic-foam containers might be a bit more complex than plastic bags.

Details of such a bylaw — such as whether retailers could be prohibited from selling boxes or bags of plastic-foam cups or what jurisdiction local municipalities could have over plastic-foam packaging that arrives through the mail — will have to be worked out by staff, Taylor said.

“We’re always going to have to look at our municipal jurisdiction, how far does it go. So that’s something our staff would have to look into.”

He certainly sees plastic-foam takeout containers being prohibited under such a bylaw.

Taylor has his eye on reducing all single-use materials.

“I’m really interested in not just banning plastic bags and looking at phasing out Styrofoam. I’m interested in other single-use waste items as well. What we’re seeing are alternatives that are less harmful to our natural environment, that are less wasteful, are readily available for businesses and people in the region to use,” he said.

“I think we need to be phasing out those harmful single-use items like single-use plastics — plastic straws and Styrofoam. We need to be moving away from those single-use items and toward more environmentally friendly items such as compostable cups and containers.”

The CRD distributed a model bylaw on banning plastic bags prior to Victoria becoming the first in the region to ban their use last July.

Several municipalities, including Saanich and Esquimalt are now modeling their plastic-bag-ban bylaws on Victoria’s.

bcleverley@timescolonist.com