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TOFINO, B.C. – The District of Tofino has taken another step in its commitment to environmental stewardship, becoming the first municipality in Canada to adopt a bylaw prohibiting the sale of single-use plastic water bottles 1 litre and less.

The amendment to the District of Tofino’s Single-Use Item Regulation Bylaw was formally adopted at the August 26, 2025, Regular Council Meeting. The regulation will take effect on April 22, 2026 (Earth Day), giving local businesses time to prepare for the transition.

Exemptions apply for water bottles sold in packaged multiples or flats, as well as during declared local, provincial, or federal emergencies when the Emergency Operations Centre is activated, and during Water Conservation Stage 3.

BUILDING ON A STRONG FOUNDATION
Tofino has long been a leader in environmental sustainability efforts. In 2019, the District introduced the Single-Use Item Regulation Bylaw and, throughout the years, banned single-use plastic items, including bags, straws, utensils, and polystyrene foam containers.

This latest amendment expands the bylaw to cover plastic water bottles, a product often found in shoreline clean-ups and marine debris in the region and around the world. Plastic water bottles are among the most common single-use items that end up in landfills and waterways. According to the Ocean Legacy Foundation, more than 1 million single-use plastic bottles go missing each year in B.C. Since 2015, over 60,000 bottles have been recovered from Vancouver Island’s west coast beaches. Once in the marine environment, plastic bottles break down into microplastics, which pose serious risks to marine life and ecosystems.

LOOKING AHEAD
The District, with support from Surfrider Pacific Rim, Tourism Tofino, and the Tofino Chamber of Commerce, will begin a collaborative communications and education campaign throughout the fall and winter to support community, visitor, and business education.

Visitors are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle and refill it during their visit with the District’s high-quality drinking water, sourced from rain-fed creeks and old-growth forests protected by ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht) Tribal Parks.

QUOTES
“By eliminating single-use plastic water bottles 1-litre and less, Tofino is taking another meaningful step to protect our oceans, beaches, and wildlife from plastic waste. This bylaw reflects our shared responsibility to the environment and to future generations and demonstrates what’s possible when communities strive for sustainability.” — Dan Law, Mayor, District of Tofino

“Surfrider Pacific Rim is thrilled to make history once again with the District of Tofino through this landmark ban on single-use plastic water bottles one litre and under. This community-driven achievement has been many years in the making, and it marks another step forward in tackling the plastic pollution crisis through systems of refill and reuse. We're grateful for the District of Tofino's leadership, and hope to see other communities, the province, and the federal government follow suit.” — Lilly Woodbury, Regional Chapter Manager, Surfrider Foundation Canada

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RELATED INFORMATION
• Talk Tofino
• District of Tofino Single-Use Item Regulation Bylaw No. 1277, 2020
• District of Tofino Single-Use Item Regulation Amendment Bylaw No. 1277.02, 2024
• Surfrider Foundation Canada – Pacific Rim