Reducing Single-Use & Takeaway Items

The City is seeking feedback on approaches and timelines to reduce specific single-use and takeaway items in Toronto. A single-use or takeaway item is any product designed for a single use after which it is disposed of in the garbage, Blue Bin (recycling) or Green Bin (organics). Typically, these products are not designed for durability or reuse. Examples include coffee cups and takeout containers.

This is Phase 2 of the consultation process. Phase 1 consultations took place in fall 2018.

Ways to Have Your Say

Survey

The survey is now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated.

Public Event

A public event took place on Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Watch the webcast online or view the presentation.

Telephone/Web Town Hall

Telephone/Web Town Halls were held on Thursday, October 10 from 7 – 8 p.m. and  Thursday, October 24 from 1 – 2 p.m.

The same information was presented on both dates.

A Telephone Town Hall is similar to a large conference call with the option to view a short presentation through live streaming. Participants are called directly and answer their phones to connect to the session.

Stakeholder Meetings

A series of stakeholder consultations took place to engage with representatives from sectors including: hospitality, food, restaurants, retail, manufacturing, waste management, accessibility, the environment, and research. The City is also shared information and invited participation through an extensive stakeholder list that included groups that involve youth, seniors and newcomers.

Stay Connected

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

Objectives

The objective of Phase 2 consultations is to gather feedback that will help the City create a Single-Use and Takeaway Item Reduction Strategy (Reduction Strategy). The primary goal of the Reduction Strategy will be to reduce the use and disposal of specific items, regardless of which waste stream (e.g. garbage, Blue Bin recycling, Green Bin organics) they are currently managed in and the material they are made of.

Items and Approaches for Reduction

Phase 2 consultations consider:

  • specific items targeted for reduction
  • proposed approaches and implementation timelines
  • potential exemptions.

The proposed items and approaches are based on input received during Phase 1 consultations, as well as other considerations including:

  • reflecting survey and polling data on preferred approaches and items to target
  • targeting items known to contribute to litter on streets and in waterways
  • achieving a measurable environmental impact
  • addressing materials which are not diverted (i.e. recycled or composted) or are not effectively diverted in Toronto’s Blue Bin Recycling and Green Bin Organics Programs
  • aligning with policies and programs being developed nationally and locally.

The City of Toronto recognizes that some single-use and takeaway items support accessibility and that programs and policies must be inclusive. Impacts to accessibility are being considered in all consultation activities and examination of specific programs and policies.

Process

Following Phase 1 consultations, City staff began developing potential policies and programs to form a Single-Use and Takeaway Item Reduction Strategy for Toronto. Development of these policies and programs included:

  • analyzing all feedback received through Phase 1 consultations to identify public and stakeholder priorities for single-use and takeaway items and preferred approaches for reduction
  • conducting a jurisdictional scan
  • reviewing available data on single-use and takeaway items including environmental and financial impacts
  • considering operational challenges related to identified materials and items
  • retaining an independent external consultant to help inform proposed policies and programs
  • considering availability of alternatives to the items evaluated.

Following Phase 2 consultations, City staff will further refine any proposed initiatives and report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee in 2020.

Learn more about how decisions and bylaws are made in Toronto.

More than 20,000 people participated in Phase 1 consultations through public events, stakeholder meetings, webinars, polling, an online survey and email comments.

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.

In Phase 1, participants were asked to consider a variety of single-use and takeaway items and mandatory and voluntary policy and program approaches, and were provided an opportunity to suggest additional items and approaches.

Results

The majority of participants expressed support for the reduction of single-use and takeaway items, a desire for reusable items instead of disposable items, and support for the implementation of both mandatory and voluntary approaches to ensure reduction of these items in the City of Toronto.

Results of Phase 1 consultations are available in the Single-Use and Takeaway Items Public Consultation Report.

A summary of Phase 1 consultations is outlined in a report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on May 23, 2019.

The results from the 2018 survey are available through the City of Toronto Open Data Portal.

Reducing single-use and takeaway items supports recommendations established in the City’s Long Term Waste Management Strategy (Waste Strategy), which was adopted by City Council in July 2016.

The Waste Strategy places priority on reducing waste and minimizing the amount sent to landfill and directs the City to explore where greater waste reduction can be achieved through:

  • 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.

Solid Waste Management Services collects personal information under the legal authority of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, SO 2006, Chapter 11, Schedule A, s 136(b) and (c) and the City of Toronto By-law No 1321-2018. All information will be collected in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

The information collected to connect participants to the Telephone Town Hall consultation regarding Phase Two: Single-Use and Takeaway Items will be used to call participants with the telephone number provided and send a link to the presentation by email.

Questions about this collection can be directed to the Manager, Public Consultation, Metro Hall, 19th Floor, 55 John Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3C6 or by telephone at 416-392-2990.