Businesses and Events
My business or event uses single-use items and I want to know how the bylaw applies to me.
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Edmonton’s Single-use Item Reduction Bylaw (20117) will help reduce waste by targeting items that can easily be avoided or replaced with reusable options. The goal is to reduce single-use items, not to switch from plastic items to non-plastic items.
“Single-use items” includes items that are made of plastic, as well as those made out of wood, bamboo, cardboard or any other material.
This bylaw (20117) applies to most organizations that are required to hold a business licence or civic event permit (for 1,500+ attendees) issued by the City of Edmonton.
Exemptions exist for charities, organizations without a business license and some types of business.
My business or event uses single-use items and I want to know how the bylaw applies to me.
The bylaw does not apply to me, but I want more information on how I can use fewer single-use items.
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Single-use plastic shopping bags can no longer be distributed, and businesses must charge at least 15 cents for a paper shopping bag and at least $1 for a new reusable shopping bag.
These minimum fees will increase on July 1, 2024 to 25 cents for a paper bag and $2 for a new reusable bag.
The bylaw does not apply to bags used for containing these types of items:
It also does not apply to bags used solely to protect dry cleaned clothes, newspapers and other types of items that might become dirty or unusable from exposure.
Restaurants must serve dine-in drink orders in reusable cups and have a written policy for accepting reusable customer cups.
Reusable cups are made from durable materials like metal, ceramic or hard plastic, and can withstand repeated washing, sanitizing and use.
Accessories such as utensils, straws, condiment packets and napkins will only be available by request or self-serve.
Asking businesses and customers to use fewer single-use items means:
Through these measures, the City aims to reduce the number of regulated single-use items used in Edmonton by 20% per person within 4 years.
Several bylaw regulations can save businesses money:
Businesses following proper health and safety protocols can safely use reusable items. Each year in Edmonton, about 91 million single-use cups are thrown in the garbage. There is a huge opportunity to reduce waste by bringing your own reusable cup!
Be sure to wash your reusable mugs and containers between uses, and visit the business information page to learn more about what businesses can do to ensure reusable items are used safely.
The federal single-use plastics regulations complement Edmonton’s bylaw. Both ban plastic shopping bags and foam cups, plates and takeout containers. The federal regulations also ban plastic straws, stir sticks, utensils and other types of plastics that are difficult to recycle. In contrast, the City’s bylaw aims to reduce single-use items, regardless of material, and make it easier to choose reusable items.
The manufacture of affected items is banned federally as of December 2022, but they can be sold and used in Canada until December 2023.
By developing our own bylaw to restrict the use of single-use items, the City can better support and educate businesses and residents, rather than relying on federal resources to help them adapt. This approach will lead to greater compliance and better environmental outcomes.