The Issue | single use plastics
The Province has created CleanBC, a plan aimed at reducing climate pollution while creating more jobs and economic opportunities for people, businesses, and communities. A sub-component of that plan, the Plastics Action Plan, aims to reduce single-use plastic in British Columbia and focuses on four key outcomes:
The declaration of a climate emergency by many municipalities has propelled the development of bylaws that seek to ban or reduce single-use items— most commonly by 2020. The federal government is also seeking to expand its efforts to reduce plastic and strengthen Canada’s Environmental Protection Act.
- Determining which types of plastic packaging to phase out altogether, as well as any necessary exemptions, such as those for health, safety, and accessibility to keep products available for the people that need them
- Requiring producers to take responsibility for more plastic products, ensuring more single-use items like sandwich bags, straws and cutlery get recycled
- Expanding the deposit-refund system to cover all beverage containers — including milk and milk substitutes — with a 10-cent refundable deposit, keeping millions of containers out of landfills and waterways and
- Supporting effective ways to prevent plastic waste in the first place and ensuring recycled plastic is re-used effectively.
The declaration of a climate emergency by many municipalities has propelled the development of bylaws that seek to ban or reduce single-use items— most commonly by 2020. The federal government is also seeking to expand its efforts to reduce plastic and strengthen Canada’s Environmental Protection Act.
The Issue | BUILDING EMISSIONS
The Province has created the Efficiency BC program to help conserve energy and make buildings healthier and more comfortable. Launched in September 2018 with matching federal funds, Efficiency BC offers:
- Financial incentives for commercial and multi-unit residential buildings to do energy-saving studies and upgrades.
- A single application for Efficiency BC, BC Hydro, FortisBC, and local government incentives.
- Free energy coaching services for homes and businesses, including a phone and email hotline staffed by energy coaching specialists.
- A one-stop-shop website with an incentive search tool and useful information on options for energy efficiency upgrades.
What BCHA is Doing To Help
The hotel industry has always been at the forefront of environmental policy. The BCHA will work collaboratively with all levels of government on the development of performance requirements and standards for plastics that consider its members’ operations and needs. The BCHA is committed to ensuring that any efficiency requirements are introduced gradually to allow its members time to upgrade their properties and obtain financial support to complete any required upgrades. https://www.bcha.com/sustainability.html.
The goGreen program supporting sustainability for the hotel sector is a significant initiative with research and results in reporting expected by the end of 2022. Additionally BCHA works closely with the Hotel Association of Canada to support the Green Key program.
Additionally BCHA has a partnership agreement with Green Step Solutions, and Rethink2gether to support education, training and contribution for our sector.
The goGreen program supporting sustainability for the hotel sector is a significant initiative with research and results in reporting expected by the end of 2022. Additionally BCHA works closely with the Hotel Association of Canada to support the Green Key program.
Additionally BCHA has a partnership agreement with Green Step Solutions, and Rethink2gether to support education, training and contribution for our sector.
