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.

This summer, the Canadian government has outlined a plan to make major grocery retailers cut plastic packaging and offer more groceries in bulk and refillable containers. This is a big step forward to eliminate plastics and single-use packaging.

On December 13th, TEA and the Reusable Toronto initiative hosted an online event, focused on how Toronto can ditch the disposables and make the shift towards reusables and a waste-free city!

In June 2022, the Canadian government passed a ban on some single-use plastics - including plastic bags, cutlery, foam and black plastic containers.

Moving our city towards a zero waste future is good for people, the environment and local businesses. Next in our series on the election and the issues at stake, our Waste Campaigner Emily Alfred dives into the big opportunities for Toronto’s next City Council to shift Toronto towards reusables.