Reducing Single-Use Program

Is your business already eliminating the unnecessary use of single-use and takeaway items in your operations? Are you a service provider that has an innovative business solution or a service that is already helping businesses reduce single-use Items?

If so, we want to hear from you and celebrate your leadership.

Complete the Reducing Single-Use Program Application today and demonstrate your commitment to be part of Toronto’s efforts to become a zero waste and circular city.

Eligible businesses who complete the application and accept the program Terms and Conditions will be added to the first edition of an online directory which will be available to customers. Businesses will also be able to connect with service providers to help them reduce their use of single-use and takeaway items.

The City may also use the information provided to showcase businesses as case studies on this web page.

Here are some practical tips to eliminate the unnecessary use of single-use and takeaway items in your business.

Single-use accessory items (such as eating utensils, straws, stir sticks, condiment packets, napkins, and beverage takeout trays)

• Adopt ‘Ask-First/By-Request’ practices in your operations where staff will first ask if they need an item, or wait for customers to request single-use accessory items before giving them out. For example:
  • Place these items behind the counter and provide them only if a customer asks for them
  • Make these items optional in your take-out orders, including online ordering and delivery apps
  • Use dispensers for these items to help ensure customers and staff take fewer items at one time

Single-use cups and containers

• Accept reusable cups and containers provided by customers for any prepared foods or beverages, including leftovers from dine-in service. For Public Health guidance, review the Reusables: Public Health Regulations & Guidance for Food Premises section on this web page.
• Allow customers to bring reusable beverage cups or takeout containers.
• Encourage customers to bring their own reusables by advertising this option in-store, on your website, or on your social media accounts.
• Use washable, reusable dishes and eating utensils to serve dine-in customers.
• Use a reusable take-out container service.

Shopping bags (paper and plastic)

• Accept reusable shopping bags or other containers provided by customers, including backpacks, closed-bottom tote boxes or bins.
• Post in-store signage and social media content to encourage customers to bring their reusable bags and containers.
• Offer incentives such as store discounts or credits to customers who bring their own reusable bags or containers.
• Offer customers the option to use surplus cardboard boxes from store inventory orders.
• Charge a fee for single-use shopping bags.
• Do not provide single-use shopping bags.
• Implement a bag, box, or container return program, which customers can use if they do not bring their own reusable bags or containers.

Foam (expanded polystyrene) takeout cups and containers & black plastic containers

• Do not use foam and black plastic takeout containers. Black plastic is not accepted in the City’s Blue Bin Program. Instead use items such as:
  • Clear clamshell plastic containers
  • Plastic containers in colours other than black
  • Tin/aluminum containers or trays
  • Paper/cardboard containers, plates or cups without wax or plastic lining
• Allow customers to provide their own containers for takeout.

Plastic and plastic-lined items labelled as compostable or bio-degradable

• Avoid plastic and plastic lined items labelled as compostable or biodegradable, which are not accepted in the City’s Blue Bin or Green Bin Program. Learn more about these items, and about what materials are accepted in the Green Bin.
• Choose recyclable alternatives and allow reusable options:
  • Use containers and other items made from materials that can be recycled. Learn more about what materials are accepted in the Blue Bin. 
  • Allow customers to bring their own containers and cups for takeout.

Get the facts on why it is important to reduce single-use and takeaway items.

• Single-use accessory items (such as eating utensils, straws, stir sticks, condiment packets, napkins, and beverage takeout trays) are generally not recyclable or compostable, and are common litter items.
• By reducing the distribution of single-use accessory items, businesses could reduce their overhead costs.
• Single-use and takeaway items require valuable resources and energy to produce, collect, process and dispose of.
• Foam containers can have serious impacts on the environment because they break down into little pieces that are easily ingested by fish and animals.
• Foam containers are difficult and costly to recycle.
• Black plastic cannot be sorted mechanically at the City’s recycling facility, so is not accepted in the Blue Bin Recycling Program and is sent to landfill.
• Take-out containers that are soiled with food and other residue can contaminate otherwise clean recyclables, resulting in entire loads being sent to landfill.
• Plastic items labelled as compostable and biodegradable, as well as plastic lined products, such as hot beverage cups, that are put in the Green Bin are screened out and end up in landfill. The Green Bin program was designed primarily to handle food waste as well as some fibre/paper products (like tissue and paper towel). It was not designed to process single-use items, products or packaging – even those labelled compostable or biodegradable. Learn more about what should go into your green bin.
• Plastic items labelled as compostable and biodegradable are not recyclable, as they are made of materials that are meant to break down quickly as opposed to conventional plastics, which have a much longer lifespan and can be recycled into a new product. Once recyclables are collected and sorted, they are baled and sold to partially offset the operational costs. Plastic items labelled as compostable and biodegradable will lower the quality of the plastic bales making them less valuable and more difficult to sell.

The federal government has published the Single-use Plastic Prohibition Regulations which officially prohibit the manufacture, sale, import and export of six plastic manufactured items:

• bags
• stir sticks
• six-pack rings
• eating utensils
• straws
• food service ware made from or containing problematic plastics, such as extruded or expanded polystyrene foam, polyvinyl chloride, oxo-degradable plastics, and black plastic containers

The Regulations will come into force on a staggered timeline, which began with the prohibition of manufacture and import for sale in Canada of five of the six items on December 20, 2022. The prohibition of ring carriers will come into effect June 20, 2023.

Webinar 4: Implementing a Reusable Foodservice Ware Program in Your Business

Event date and time

October 11, 2023 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Event details

City staff facilitated a panel discussion with three Reducing Single-Use program participant service providers:

• Scott Morrison, Muuse
• Kayli Dale, Friendlier
• Megan Takeda-Tully, Suppli

Each of the panelists shared their expertise on topics including

• how their business model works
• how to retain their services and successfully implement their program
• benefits of implementing a reusable foodservice ware program

View the presentation

Second Presentation of Webinar 3: Guidance on Foodservice Ware and Accessory Items Product Alternatives for Businesses

Event date and time

June 7, 2023 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Event details

City staff presented an interactive webinar about how businesses can effectively reduce their use of single-use and accessory items by switching to more environmentally compatible alternatives, and how some items are problematic in the City of Toronto Blue Bin recycling and Green Bin organics processing systems. The webinar:

• shared information to help businesses choose more environmentally compatible foodservice ware products
• explained why black plastic and expanded polystyrene foam are difficult to capture and recycle
• provided clarity on the organics processing issues related to products labelled as compostable/biodegradable
• introduced the Reducing Single-Use & Takeaway Items Guide, a product alternatives guide for food service businesses in Toronto

View the presentation

Webinar 2: What the Federal Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations Mean for Food Service Businesses

Event date and time

January 27, 2023 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Event details

Environment and Climate Change Canada and City of Toronto staff presented an interactive webinar about the impact of the federal Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations and reducing single-use and takeaway items in your business. The webinar:

• explained the Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations, including the targeted items and implementation timelines
• outlined which businesses will be affected and how they will be impacted
• shared information and resources to help you prepare for compliance
• outlined the approach to federal enforcement
• discussed reuse with a focus on the reduction of single-use and takeaway items

View the presentation

Webinar 1: Introduction to Reducing Single-Use Program for Foodservice Businesses

Event date and time

November 23, 2022 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Are you interested in moving away from single-use and takeaway items in your business but don’t know where to start?

Are you already reducing single-use items in your business and want to know more about resources that can support your efforts?

City staff:

• explained the benefits of participating in the Reducing Single-Use program
• showed participants how to easily submit a program Application Form
• helped participants access resources to support your single-use item reduction practices
• answered questions about how to reduce your use of single-use and takeaway items and successfully prepare for any potential future City restrictions or bylaws on the reduction of single-use and takeaway items
• shared information and resources to  help you prepare for the upcoming federal plastics bans

View the presentation

Review the Reducing Single-Use & Takeaway Items Guide to product alternatives for single-use food and beverage containers and accessory items.

Display these easy reference posters in your business for staff and customers to see, or use them on social media to encourage your customers to reduce waste.

Let’s choose to reduce single-use items 

Reduce single-use items in your business

Some businesses have expressed concerns about the handling and acceptance of re-useable materials in their operations. COVID-19 has also impacted the public’s perception of the safety of using re-useable materials.

The following resources are offered to support businesses in making decisions about accepting customer-provided containers or cups.

To ensure the health and safety of the community, food and beverage establishments that choose to adopt policies and practices to accept reusable containers or cups from their customers must continue to comply with the Ontario Food Premises Regulation which outlines all of the requirements regarding proper cleaning and sanitation.

Toronto Public Health provides guidance to food premises operators regarding their responsibility when handling reusable containers.

Information from Health Canada regarding the use of reusable bags and bins can be found on Canada’s Food Safety site.