For years, Toronto has been working on a Single-Use Reduction Strategy to tackle single-use bags, foodware and cutlery.  It’s currently in a voluntary phase focused on education and support for small businesses, and Toronto City Council is expected to vote on the next phase that includes regulations before the end of this year.

This is urgent: Canada’s ban on single use plastic bags, utensils and food containers was slated to start December 2023. This created a big incentive for businesses, small and large, to prepare for the ban and seek out alternatives. A November 2023 federal court decision sided with the plastics industry throws the future of the federal ban into doubt, but this increased the urgency of what Toronto and other municipalities can do locally to tackle single-use plastics and other material.

Toronto has fallen behind:

In the past few years, other jurisdictions across Canada and around the world have passed and implemented their own single-use regulations that include bans, restrictions and requiring alternatives. 

In addition, local research by TEA and the UofT Trash Team shows that small businesses across Toronto are ready to reduce waste and are seeking guidance on how best to do it. Read the 2023 report, and the 2022 report. 

What we want to see in Toronto: 

Based on what the City has consulted on, recent local research, and success stories around the world, here’s what Reusable Toronto and TEA are calling for: 

• Accessories on Request: confirm before giving out accessories like utensils, napkins, condiments, etc. 
• Accept customer cups and bags: when a customer brings-their-own clean cup or bag. 
• Reusables for dine-in: require that ‘dine-in’ orders are served with reusable cups and foodware (dishes, utensils etc)
• Reusables for events: require that major event stadiums, arenas, and venues provide reusable cups and foodware
• Returnable options for takeout: support the expansion of reusable, returnable takeout cups and containers – a requirement in Germany!
• Provide comprehensive support for Toronto’s small businesses - like training, information sessions and micro-grants to help them adapt to new rules

In order to get this done, the City needs to support small and locally owned businesses. While the majority of restaurants and foodservices in Toronto are major international chains (who have already had to meet bans and reuse requirements in other cities), Toronto needs to ensure that a local Reduction Strategy helps Toronto businesses. This would include phasing in requirements starting with bigger businesses, exemptions and small grants. What we don’t want to see is exemptions for the biggest businesses that have the most lobbyists!

• Develop a timeline for City facilities, food services and events on City property or funded by the City to adopt reusable cups and foodware as quickly as possible.

The City of Toronto can show real leadership by in City-owned facilities and on city property. This can include civic centres, city daycares and others, but also important venues like the Toronto Zoo, the CNE, St Lawrence Market and restaurants and events that operate in public parks and spaces. 

Use our tool to take action.

We need to speak up and tell City Council to move quickly to take action with strong policies that will help local restaurants and food businesses shift from harmful disposables to reusable alternatives, and adopt reusable options for take-out and dine-in. Send a letter to your local Councillor, the Mayor, and the Chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee by clicking here.