iN NUMBERS: Majority of British Columbians support single-use plastic ban

A soggy, floppy, paper straw is the suffering we must bear to help save the planet. Some think that’s a fair price. Canada banned a bunch of single-use plastics a few years ago and now that people have grown used to the eco-friendly alternatives British Columbians are torn.

Here are the numbers from a Research Co. survey:

• 58: Per cent of British Columbians surveyed support the ban on plastic checkout bags.
• 60: Per cent of British Columbians surveyed support the ban on flexible plastic beer ring carriers.
• 63: Per cent of British Columbians surveyed support the ban on plastic stir sticks.
• 58: Per cent of British Columbians surveyed support the ban on plastic straws.
• 54: Per cent of British Columbians surveyed said they go out of their way to recycle bottles and cans all of the time.
• 40: Per cent of British Columbians surveyed buy biodegradable products most of the time.
• 62: Per cent of British Columbians surveyed said they use fewer plastic products than they did five years ago.
• 84: Per cent British Columbians surveyed said they almost always use a reusable bag at the grocery store.
• 4: Years ago Canada banned single-use plastics.
• 6: Categories of single-use plastics are banned in Canada: checkout bags, cutlery, foodservice ware, beer ring carriers, stir sticks and straws.
• 210,000: Tonnes of recyclables were collected by RecycleBC in 2025.