April 4, 2024
Written by Abdul Matin Sarfraz for the National Observer
"When I talked to zero-waste advocates later, they were disappointed that the spirit of the bylaw was not being followed in some locations.
“It's sad to hear that some big chains and major fast food restaurants aren't all on board with this and are wasting disposable cups that no one wants,” said Emily Alfred, a waste campaigner at Toronto Environmental Alliance. “It doesn't really make sense to make it in a disposable cup. It's a waste of money for them.”
According to Alfred, the solution lies in simple, yet effective, practices already adopted by many smaller businesses: preparing drinks in a cup or jug and pouring that into the customer's cup. “It's not complex and many small businesses already do this. Some big chains have done it, too.”
Originally published for the National Observer: