Reusable Toronto

IMAGINE:

Cafes that encourage you to bring your own cup
Reusable dishes for your dine-in food, even at fast-food restaurants
Take-out served in a reusable container that you can borrow and return when you’re done
Delivery that asks first if you need condiments and utensils
Reusable cups that you can borrow to use at a festival or event

Join the #ReusableTO campaign and call for real solutions to single-use plastics: more reusables! Other cities are creating bold new reuse policies and programs and Toronto can, too!

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.

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The Problem and Solution

THE PROBLEM

Every day, single-use items, designed to be used once and thrown out, end up in our environment, our waterways, and in landfills, especially plastic. This presents a growing waste management crisis, but they also cause harm to the environment and people’s health at every stage, from production to disposal.

Single-use foodware - like disposable food containers, unused (and unwanted) cutlery, and disposable coffee cups - creates tonnes of unnecessary and avoidable waste each year.

THE SOLUTION

To tackle the waste and the plastic crisis, we need to stop producing so many disposable products in the first place. There’s a growing movement across the world to eliminate single-use, disposable foodware and shift to reusable alternatives. Reusable dishes for dining in, and reusable takeaway container programs are some of the real solutions to this ongoing crisis. These solutions benefit people, businesses, and the environment.

NOW IS THE TIME

Other cities and jurisdictions are passing new reuse policies, and Toronto can, too! Right now, we have an opportunity to shift Toronto toward reusables in food services. Because of public demand, governments are starting to take action:

The Federal government is banning six single-use plastic items including cutlery, bags and some food containers, starting in December 2023.
The City of Toronto is moving forward with its Single-Use and Take Away Items Reduction Strategy, starting with an education program for businesses. Next, they’ll consider new regulations and policies.

Here in our city, we have a growing reuse movement with community groups, businesses and individuals demonstrating local on-the-ground reuse solutions.