Reducing Single-Use & Takeaway Items

In fall 2018, the City held a series of engagement opportunities to seek feedback from the public on how to reduce single-use and takeaway items — such as coffee cups, plastic bags, take-out containers and plastic cutlery. Stakeholder meetings also took place with representatives from food and restaurant establishments, non-governmental organizations, retail, manufacturing, accessibility and environment sectors.

A summary of the results of Phase 1 Consultation, along with plans for Phase 2 consultation in 2019, are outlined in the report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on May 23, 2019.

 

The City hosted an in-person consultation  in October 2018. The session included an Open House, presentation and question period. A recording of the session is available for viewing.

A webinar and an online survey were also conducted.

Stakeholder meetings took place with representatives from food and restaurant establishments, non-governmental organizations, retail, manufacturing, accessibility and environment sectors.

In total, 20,512 individuals participated in Phase 1 consultation. A summary of the results of the consultations is outlined in a report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee.

 

Phase 2 of the consultation on single-use and takeaway items is planned for 2019, and will present the proposed approaches and timelines to reduce specific single-use items in Toronto.

Stakeholders will receive notification in advance regarding ways to get involved and provide feedback.

To receive updates about Phase 2 consultations, subscribe to the Long Term Waste Management Strategy email list.

Reducing single-use and takeaway items  supports recommendations established in the City’s Long Term Waste Management Strategy (Waste Strategy), adopted by City Council in July 2016), which places priority on reducing waste and minimizing the amount sent to landfill.

The Waste Strategy directs the City to explore where greater waste reduction can be achieved via:

  • banning of certain packaging or materials
  • imposing levies
  • mandating source separation
  • implementing disposal bans
  • developing local Extended Producer Responsibility measures.

In July 2018, City Council directed staff in Solid Waste Management Services to:

  • consult with residents and stakeholder groups on single-use plastics and takeaway packaging items for targeted reduction, and solicit input on policy tools
  • develop a work plan aimed to reduce the use of single-use or takeaway packaging or products
  • develop a policy to restrict plastic straws in the City of Toronto.

Toronto’s efforts to reduce single-use and takeaway items also support and align with work being done at both the Provincial and Federal level.

Phase 1 of the consultations took place in fall 2018 to identify opportunities to reduce the generation of single-use and takeaway items in Toronto, including:

  • Which single-use or takeaway items residents and stakeholders are most interested in addressing
  • Preferred methods or approaches to reducing these items or promoting additional reuse.

Phase 2 of the consultation is planned for 2019, and will present the proposed approaches and timelines to reduce specific single-use items in Toronto. Stakeholders will receive notification in advance regarding ways to get involved and provide feedback.

The City’s proposed Single-use and Takeaway Item Reduction Strategy and Phase 2 consultation results will be brought forward to Committee and City Council for consideration in 2020.