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.

Join the campaign and help support a reusable future for Toronto!