Takeout customers in Toronto will soon have to ask businesses for plastic cutlery and bags after a new bylaw comes into effect next month.
Starting March 1, the Single-Use and Takeaway Items Bylaw will be in effect to encourage and enable businesses to take small steps to eliminate unnecessary use of single-use and takeaway items, and to celebrate those who do.
The bylaw includes:
- an “ask-first/by-request” approach for
- accessory food items, such as straws, napkins, stir sticks, utensils, beverage takeout trays and condiment packages
- paper shopping bags except for certain types of paper shopping bags, such as those used to hold bakery items and prescription or medication bags and
- Compatibility of paper bags with the City’s diversion programs (i.e., no metal grommets or plastic handles).
- the acceptance of reusable shopping bags and reusable beverage cups provided by customers at retail business establishments.
Essentially, businesses will no longer automatically provide plastic utensils, cups or a bag to carry your food, and instead customers will have to ask for it.
In addition, a city grant called the Circular Food Innovators Fund (CFIF), will support small businesses in the delivery of this bylaw. The city will consider grant funding requests starting at $5,000 and up to $35,000. CFIF is accepting applications until Feb. 27.
The new bylaw is part of the second stage of the city’s Reducing Single-Use program. Stage 1 was approved by city council back in June 2021 and included a Voluntary Measures Program encouraging businesses to voluntarily implement actions to reduce single-use items.
In 2025, Solid Waste Management Services will report back to city council on further measures to reduce plastics, including the possibility of expanding the bylaw to include large venues in Toronto, acceptance of reusable food containers provided by customers at retail establishments and a requirement for business operators to use reusable food containers and beverage cups.
The city says there’s multiple ways residents can reduce single-use plastics including by saying no to single-use items, specifying on food apps that you don’t need plastic utensils, and carrying your own reusable utensils, mugs, containers and bags.
