How Edmonton could ban plastic bags, straws and styrofoam by 2023
The City of Edmonton is getting closer to banning several single-use items and imposing fees for other commonly-trashed stuff, and a new city document has revealed details about how it might work.
Under the proposed rules, plastic shopping bags would be banned along with plastic straws and styrofoam cups and containers.
Customers would also have to pay a minimum fee of 25 cents for disposable cups, a 15 cent minimum fee on paper bags, and a $1 fee on reusable bags.
"This means fewer single-use items will be discarded as litter or thrown in the garbage, moving us closer to our goal of diverting 90 per cent of waste from the landfill," the report said.
In an effort to slash the amount of trash in Edmonton, city council previously asked administrators to study a new bylaw and how it could align with a similar federal ban announced in 2020.
The "backgrounder" report says an estimated 450 million single-use items (SUI) are thrown away every year in the city, including more than 100 million takeout containers, 119 million utensils and 92 million plastic bags.
"There are environmental, social, and economic impacts from the production, consumption and disposal of SUI, such as greenhouse gas emissions, consumption of natural resources, and water pollution."
The document is part of the city's 25-year Waste Strategy that has a goal of a "zero waste future."
FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO COME IN 2022
The proposals in the report are being used in consultations with stakeholders, and the final rules have not been approved.
The plan is still up for debate and the bylaw won't pass until councillors and the public have a chance to consider the details at a public hearing in 2022.
"The City of Edmonton is talking to businesses, event organizers, charitable food service providers, and other organizations about the draft recommendations and how the city can support their transition to using fewer SUI," the document said.
The report suggests "voluntary measures" like businesses only offering utensils, napkins and ketchup packets to customers who request them.
Accommodations would be made for people with disabilities.
Restaurants will also be encouraged to use reusable dishes and accept containers that customers bring in, but that will not be mandatory, and paper or cardboard food containers would still be allowed without a fee.
PLAN COULD GO FURTHER: WASTE FREE EDMONTON
The plan sounds pretty good to Waste Free Edmonton – a local non-profit working to promote consuming less and reusing more – but the group's co-founder said the rules could go further.
"What we would have liked to have seen is for takeout containers to be treated the same as cups, where you can still use single-use items in a transition, but you have to pay for them," Sean Stepchuk said.
"By having to pay, it creates a disincentive to do that, and it makes it so an individual has to have a second thought."
He believes that would encourage people to bring their own containers, which is ultimately the best option for the planet.
Stepchuk wants the plan implemented on an "urgent basis" and said the planet has a plastic crisis, which is connected to a climate change crisis.
"As long as we see this implemented in 2022, I'll be happy. Could it have been sooner? Yes. But, I think doing this now will also provide leadership for other municipalities," Stepchuk said.
The report found that 42 per cent of all large litter collected in 2019 consisted of single-use items.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
NEW 'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.