Reusable Toronto is an initiative of local organizations, reuse champions, businesses, and community members, convened by the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA). Together, we’re working to eliminate harmful disposables and champion a culture of reuse in Toronto through advocacy, policy change, community engagement, and on-the-ground solutions.
Every Torontonian can do their part to choose reusables and to support businesses that are taking steps to reduce single-use foodware. But we can also use our voices to advocate for city-wide changes, such as local regulations and programs that stop the use of unnecessary single-use foodware, promote reusable alternatives for dine-in and take-out, and support local businesses to choose reuse.
Join us and show your support for reuse! By signing up, you’ll receive action alerts, campaign updates, and information about ways you can champion a culture of reuse in Toronto.
THE PROBLEM
Every day, single-use plastic ends up in our environment, our waterways, and in landfills. Plastic is harming the environment and people’s health at every stage, from extracting fossil fuels to produce plastic to plastic pollution in our environment.
Single-use foodware - like clamshell containers, cutlery, and cups - creates tonnes of waste each year. Whether it's unrecyclable plastic contaminating the recycling bin, unused plastic cutlery in people’s homes,or plastic containers that end up in a landfill, there’s too much unnecessary single-use foodware. The good news is that there’s a solution, and it’s good for the environment, for people and local businesses.
THE SOLUTION
To tackle the plastic crisis, we need to stop producing so much plastic in the first place and shift to reuse and refill systems. There’s a growing movement in cities across the world to eliminate single-use foodware and shift to reusable alternatives. Reusable foodware - such as “bring-your-own” cups and containers, reusable dishes for dining in, and reusable takeaway container programs - is a real solution to the plastics crisis that benefits people, businesses and the environment.
Other cities and jurisdictions are passing new reuse policies, and Toronto can, too!
NOW IS THE TIME
Right now, we have an opportunity to shift Toronto toward reusables in food services. Because of public demand, governments are starting to take action:
By creating new reuse policies and programs for local foodservice businesses, Toronto can eliminate harmful disposables and create real solutions. Here in our city, we have a growing reuse movement with community groups, businesses and individuals demonstrating local on-the-ground reuse solutions.
#ReusableTO
