Single-Use Items

Single-use plastics are consistently found along local beaches, waterways and shorelines, posing risks to marine life and fragile coastal ecosystems. As a community located within the unceded, traditional territory of Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, the District of Tofino strives to act with respect, care, and responsibility for the lands and waters it depends on.

The bylaw is informed by the principles of Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation’s ʔiisaak (ii-saak) Pledge, which emphasizes respect, responsibility, and thoughtful stewardship. By taking action locally, Tofino contributes to broader efforts to reduce plastic pollution while honouring values that prioritize long-term environmental care.

The bylaw applies to all businesses operating within the District of Tofino that provide food, beverages, or retail goods to customers. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Restaurants, cafés, food trucks, and bars
• Grocery and convenience stores
• Retail shops
• Accommodation providers selling food or beverages
• Event vendors and temporary food service providers

Residents and visitors are not regulated directly under the bylaw. However, awareness of the requirements helps customers understand what businesses can and cannot provide, and supports shared responsibility in reducing waste.

Businesses may not sell or provide the following items, except where exemptions apply:

• Checkout bags
• Plastic drinking straws
• Single-use plastic utensils, including forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks, and stir sticks
• Polystyrene foam food service ware for prepared foods
• Plastic water bottles 1 litre and less

Compostable and biodegradable plastics are considered plastics under the bylaw.

Businesses are expected to:

• Understand which items are regulated
• Allow customers to use their own reusable items
• Train staff on compliant practices
• Source compliant alternatives to regulated items
• Educate guests through email, websites, and social media that Tofino’s drinking water is safe to drink, and encourage visitors to bring reusable water bottles as part of their travel planning

Where non-compliance persists or recurs, formal enforcement action may be taken. Each day that a violation occurs or continues may be treated as a separate offence under the bylaw.

Under the District of Tofino Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw, the following fines may be issued for non-compliance:

• Providing a regulated item contrary to the bylaw: $100
• Denying or discouraging use of a customer’s own bag or straw: $100
• Obstructing a Bylaw Enforcement Officer: $300

The bylaw explicitly protects access needs by allowing plastic drinking straws and water bottles to be provided upon request without requiring proof or disclosure. This ensures accessibility needs are respected while still reducing unnecessary single-use items.

If a resident, visitor, or business has a concern about possible non-compliance with the Single-Use Item Regulation Bylaw, the District encourages concerns to be reported through its official bylaw complaint process.

Reports can be submitted online using the District’s Bylaw Complaint Form. This helps ensure that concerns are documented, consistently reviewed, and followed up on appropriately by Bylaw Enforcement.

The District’s approach to enforcement prioritizes education and awareness, particularly where businesses are making good-faith efforts to comply. Reporting concerns supports shared responsibility and helps ensure the bylaw is applied fairly across the community.