This report presents an update on waste reduction initiatives from the Solid Waste Management Services Division (Solid Waste). The report proposes a new Single-Use and Takeaway Items Bylaw (SUTI Bylaw) applicable to retail business establishments as part of Stage 2 of the Single-Use and Takeaway Items Reduction Strategy (Reduction Strategy). The proposed Single-Use and Takeaway Items Bylaw includes the following mandatory activities by a retail business establishment operator: - confirm a customer needs a single-use accessory food item prior to distribution — - confirm a customer needs a paper shopping bags prior to distribution — - charge customers a minimum amount for a reusable shopping bag, with the minimum amount to increase one year following the proposed SUTI Bylaw comes into force — - accept the use of reusable shopping bags by a customer — - confirm a customer needs a single-use beverage cup prior to distribution — and - accept the use of a reusable beverage cup by a customer. Table 1. Summary of Single-Use and Takeaway Items Bylaw and proposed implementation timeline Targeted Items Proposed Implementation Date of Mandatory Measures, Post-Adoption by City Council March 1, 2024 May 1, 2024 May 1, 2025 Single-Use Accessory Food Items Ask-First/By-Request Paper Shopping Bags Ask-First/By-Request Compatibility Reusable Shopping Bags Mandatory Acceptance Minimum Amount Charged - $1.00 Minimum Amount Charged - $2.00 Single-Use Beverage Cups Ask-First/By-Request Reusable Beverage Cups Provided by Customers Mandatory Acceptance This report also responds to City Council's direction to advise on options to incentivize businesses to reduce single-use and takeaway items by proposing a new business grant program, the Circular Food Innovators Fund (CFIF). This report outlines Phase One of the Circular Food Innovators Fund, which focuses on supporting businesses to implement reuse systems that eliminate single-use and takeaway items. Lastly, the report outlines next steps for Stage 3 of the Reduction Strategy, to further explore measures targeted towards the use of reusable items and the further reduction of single-use and takeaway items, in addition to next steps for the second phase of the Circular Food Innovators Fund. Please note that in advance of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee meeting scheduled for November 29, 2023, Solid Waste staff will provide a supplemental report that provides an update as it relates to the recent decision issued on November 16, 2023, by the Federal Court in Responsible Plastic Use Coalition v. Canada (Environment and Climate Change) regarding the constitutionality of the Government's current approach to banning single-use plastics. The report will also address the impacts, if any, to the Single-Use and Takeaway Items Bylaw proposed in this report that may result from the decision.
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