Staff to explore plastic water bottle ban on Hamilton municipal properties
Public works staff will investigate a potential ban on the sale of plastic water bottles at city facilities as a way to reduce Hamilton's waste stream.
Coun. John-Paul Danko suggested the study as part of a draft strategy to cut down on single-use plastic items in Hamilton.
That blueprint already considers a water-filling station at the city-owned King's Forest golf course, Danko noted during Wednesday's waste management advisory committee.
Then it would make sense that the golf course stop selling bottled water because there's an alternative available."
Staff were told the east-end golf club sold more than 1,600 bottles of water last year, said Ryan Kent, senior project manager in waste planning.
The draft single-use plastics strategy presents 19 suggested action items," including the continued installation of bottle-filling stations in arenas and other municipal buildings.
Wednesday's subcommittee also discussed extra charges or incentives to discourage single-use plastics, such as coffee cups, at city buildings.
It's important that residents understand the measure would be to reduce the waste stream, Coun. Maria Pearson said.
Because you all know what we're going to hear after this: It's a money grab.' ... and that's not the case."
Another suggested action item is obliging event organizers to use city-approved compostable products to be eligible for municipal waste services.
Ideally, I think we want to capture as many events as possible," said Lynda Lukasik, executive director of Environment Hamilton and subcommittee member.
Staff expect to present the strategy to the public works committee in October. Ultimately, it needs final approval at council.
Due to COVID-19, some action items might need a pause" or consideration through a different lens," Kent said.
Hamilton has seen a slight drop in waste generation during the pandemic, unlike other municipalities, staff noted.
Mixed solid waste and recyclables were one per cent lower between March and July compared to last year. That could be attributed to the economic shutdown, staff suggested.
There was a steeper decline in yard waste, 18 per cent, which staff said may have been weather-related and due to temporarily discontinued collection at the outset of the emergency.
Teviah Moro is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: tmoro@thespec.com