Waste Reduction

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Every Edmontonian has the power to reduce the waste they make at home and at work. Reducing waste not only saves money but also helps to protect our environment and conserve valuable resources.

The City of Edmonton supports waste reduction through its:

Single-use Items Strategy

City to determine the best way to reduce the usage of single-use items by residents and businesses.

Waste Reduction Roadmap

Identifies programs and regulations that will result in fewer materials becoming part of the waste stream.

25-year Waste Strategy

Emphasizes waste prevention and waste reduction, and redesigns our services to help all Edmontonians play a bigger role in Edmonton’s zero waste future.

Public Education Programs and Initiatives

Programs and initiatives in place that support waste reduction.

Single-use Items Strategy

The City is working to determine the best ways to reduce the amount of single-use items used by residents and businesses. Single-use items addressed by the City’s work are those that are provided for convenience and designed to be used once then discarded. Examples include shopping bags, straws, utensils, disposable cups, and take-out containers.

Waste Services will bring recommendations to City Council in 2022. Before changes can be implemented, they will need to be approved by Council. Residents and businesses will also have the opportunity to speak at a public hearing.

It’s important to note that restrictions will not apply to people who need single-use items for accessibility reasons. The City will also work closely with not-for-profits and charities to minimize impacts on their operations.

Action taken today to help reduce waste will help leave a better world for future generations!

Learn more about Edmonton's plan to reduce single-use items

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the City going to ban single-use items?

The City is exploring a variety of options to reduce the use of single-use items like shopping bags, straws and disposable cups. Different approaches will likely apply to different kinds of single-use items. We are currently determining which combination of approaches makes the most sense for Edmonton, and will share that in a strategy in the first quarter of 2022. Utility Committee and City Council will then review and approve the strategy or request modifications. Once the strategy is clear, a bylaw will be developed and brought for approval.

Will there be a fine for using single-use items, for either residents or businesses?

The City’s focus will be on ensuring businesses are aware of the bylaw, and providing support to help with compliance. The specific approach to enforcement has not been recommended or approved yet. Fines are a possibility, but the goal of the strategy and bylaw is to reduce the use of single-use items, not to punish people or businesses who use them.

What’s the difference between “single-use items” and “single-use plastics”?

“Single-use items” includes items that are made of plastic, as well as those made out of wood, bamboo, cardboard or other fibre products. The goal of the City’s single-use items strategy is to reduce the amount of single-use items being used, not just to replace plastics with other materials. Every single-use item, regardless of what it is made of, carries an environmental cost. For this reason, we are focusing on “single-use items”, not “single-use plastics.”

What about things like disposable face masks, other personal protective equipment, and sterile packaging?

Restrictions will focus on single-use items that are provided for convenience, like utensils, hot and cold drink cups and lids, straws and stir sticks. Reusable alternatives to these items are readily available. Items like disposable face masks, gloves and sterile packaging will not be subject to restrictions.

Why bother with this initiative if the federal government is implementing its own ban?

The proposed federal ban addresses specific single-use plastics only. If the federal ban is passed, unintended consequences could occur from the substitution of other materials for plastic items. Furthermore, the timing of the federal actions are unknown, as are the enforcement plans and the mechanisms to support businesses with the transition.

City Council directed City Administration to proceed with designing a set of restrictions on single-use items that will work for Edmonton and align with proposed federal regulations. Council also directed Administration that the local bylaw should not be delayed by waiting for the federal regulations. It’s not currently clear when federal single-use plastic legislation will be implemented.

As well, we have the opportunity to do more to limit the amount of waste produced by implementing restrictions that go beyond the federal regulations, if Council approves.

I have a disability and I need plastic straws (or other single-use items).

Exceptions will be made for people who need these items. We are reaching out to local disability advocacy groups to ensure diverse needs are reflected in the strategy and bylaw. We are also following best practices from other jurisdictions that have already designed exemptions for accessibility reasons.

Plastic bags aren’t really single-use for me-- I reuse them, put garbage in them, and so on. Why should I buy plastic bags just to put garbage in?

This is a reasonable concern. Reusing single-use bags as garbage bags is a good way to reduce waste. However, far more single-use bags are produced than are reused. Research has also shown that bans on plastic bags result in an overall decrease in plastic consumption, despite increased purchase of garbage bags. For those reasons, restricting their use is more beneficial.

Garbage bags are actually not even required in the garbage carts. If you prefer to bag your garbage, you may continue to use single-use shopping bags as garbage bags until you run out. You can also reuse other types of bags, such as packaging, for garbage.

What about COVID/germs in general? I think that reusable alternatives to single-use items are less sanitary.

Both disposable and reusable options are available in many restaurants, and both can be used safely. Growing demand for food takeout and delivery, coupled with the need to adapt to the COVID-19 crisis, makes it clear that single-use items will continue to play a role in food and customer safety.

Studies have shown that the risk of COVID-19 transmission from objects is low, and that reusable items can be safely used. The City recognizes that support for tighter regulations and plastic bans in the food industry may have decreased due to the pandemic. We anticipate that many people may be more comfortable with new regulations after the pandemic ends. For that reason, Edmonton’s restrictions won’t be implemented until one year after the bylaw is approved, to give time for businesses and residents to plan and adjust, and allow us to monitor the COVID-19 situation.

Waste Reduction Roadmap

Edmonton has developed a Waste Reduction Roadmap to support the commitments identified in the 25-year Waste Strategy. The Roadmap identifies programs and regulations that will result in fewer materials becoming part of the waste stream over the next three years.

The development of the roadmap included:

A review of current waste reduction offerings in Edmonton
Best practices research and how those practices can be applied to Edmonton
An evaluation of new ways to reduce waste - including programs, regulations and partnerships with community organizations
Engagement with key stakeholders and the general public

Waste Reduction RoadMap (28MB)

Implementation of the Roadmap will happen over three years and will result in fewer materials from Edmonton residents and businesses becoming part of the waste stream.

Zero Waste Framework

There are many ways to manage waste. The Zero Waste Framework, below, lists them in order of most to least preferred. Rethink, reduce and reuse focus on preventing waste and provide the most environmental, economic and social benefits.

Waste prevention reduces the amount of natural resources used, cuts greenhouse gas emissions, reduces the cost of collecting and managing waste, and redistributes usable items among community members.

Zero Waste Framework Photo

Each level of the Zero Waste Framework is described below, with a few tips to help you think about how you can get on board.

Rethink/Redesign

Encourage and support the design of products and systems that minimize waste and support a circular economy.

Purchase products made from reused, recycled or sustainably-harvested materials
Buy items that are durable, repairable, fully recyclable or compostable, so that they don’t end up in a landfill
Support businesses, product designers and manufacturers that are committed to using natural resources sustainably
Join sharing networks to avoid buying things that you may only use a few times, such as books and tools
Support initiatives that focus on rethinking consumption habits, and advocate for your right to repair items, and for producers to take responsibility for the waste they produce

Reduce

Prevent waste at the source to minimize how much you have to throw away.

Purchase products with minimal packaging
Plan ahead when shopping and attending events by bringing reusable items with you, in order to avoid single-use items
Substitute something you already have to fill a need instead of buying something new
When offered, decline promotional and single-use items that you don’t need
Plan meals and grocery shop with a list to reduce food waste
Reduce yard waste by going bagless

Reuse

Use an item for the duration of its life.

Donate, sell or gift items that are still in good condition. Edmonton Reuse Directory has a list of organizations that accept items for reuse
Purchase pre-owned items
Repair or refurbish items to extend their life
Join community buy and sell groups to swap items with neighbours. Here are some tips for organizing a clothing swap
Check our Reuse blogs for more tips and interesting ideas

Recycle/Compost

Turn waste into a new product that can be used again through mechanical, chemical or biological processes.

Compost food scraps and yard waste at home, and use the nutrient-rich compost in your yard or garden.
Make the most of the services provided by the City of Edmonton and learn how to sort your waste to recycle as much as you can. Use WasteWise to eliminate the guesswork.

Recover

Mechanical and biological processes that recover additional materials from the waste that cannot be recycled or composted. This includes recovering energy from waste.

Residuals Management

Responsible management of waste that cannot be recycled, composted or recovered as energy, as well as environmentally responsible management of existing landfills to maximize their capacity/lifespan.

Waste Reduction Updates

Public Education Programs and Initiatives

The City of Edmonton has many programs and initiatives in place that support waste reduction.

Programs

Tours and Presentations for Schools
Master Composter Recycler Program
Home composting workshops, support and education centre

Initiatives

For More Information

Email	wastereduction@edmonton.ca

Waste Reduction

The City of Edmonton supports waste reduction through its:

Single-use Items Strategy

Frequently Asked Questions

Waste Reduction Roadmap

Zero Waste Framework

Each level of the Zero Waste Framework is described below, with a few tips to help you think about how you can get on board.

Waste Reduction Updates

Public Education Programs and Initiatives

The City of Edmonton has many programs and initiatives in place that support waste reduction.

Programs

Initiatives

Related Documents

Related Links

For More Information