Toronto delays cup decision, passes packaging rules

(Dec. 5/08) Less than two weeks after Toronto’s Public Works committee listened to industry concerns and delayed a decision on banning paper coffee cups, city council moved to introduce other restrictive in-store packaging rules.

These measures include:

Mandatory 5-cent fee on plastic bags

Beginning June 1, 2009, Toronto shoppers will have to pay five cents for each throw-away plastic shopping bag provided by retail stores, including restaurants.  At the same time, retailers will be required to accept reusable bags, and to provide other alternatives to plastic bags, such as cardboard boxes, at no charge to the customer. 

While this mandatory fee on plastic bags has been presented by council and other industry groups as an alternative to a mandatory 10-cent discount for customers who bring their own bags, this fee amounts to little more than a tax on customers.  Biodegradable and compostible bags will be banned in the City by June 1, 2010.

Ban on plastic and compostable food packaging

In the Dec. 1 meeting, council also voted to eliminate plastic take-out containers that are not compatible with the city’s blue bin program.  On a positive note, the implementation date was extended to Feb. 28, 2011 from an original date of Dec. 31, 2009.  This extension will give foodservice operators additional time to develop and source recyclable containers.

The City also passed recommendations requiring the development of a reuasable and refillable container protocol in restaurant operations.  CRFA’s message that food safety must be a top consideration when making regulatory changes to in-store packaging was echoed by two city councillors, who introduced motions to ensure that these recommendations do not conflict with any regulations in the province’s Health Protection and Promotion Act and include information on food safety and cross-contamination risks.  Both motions were adopted by council.

On each issue considered by council, CRFA argued that recycling is a more reasonable and responsible solution for dealing with packaging than bans and taxes.  In the case of coffee cups, other communities currently recycle the paper cups and plastic lids.  The same is true for rigid plastic packaging.

Through an expanded blue box program, Toronto could well exceed its waste diversion goals without punishing business owners and customers.  CRFA will continue to lobby for the expansion of the city’s recycling program, and will represent industry concerns as a member of the newly created Coffee Cup Working Group.

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