Today, Toronto passed a new bylaw for plastic bags, bottled water, and reusable packaging for food, which will affect most retailers in the city of Toronto.
Here's a brief outline of the policies approved by city council.
Immediately
- The sale of bottled water at City Civic Centres is banned immediately, or as soon as current contracts expire
As of June 1, 2009
- Retailers must charge 5 cents for each single-use plastic bag "or provide a free alternative"
- Signs must be placed to let customers know about the charge
- The charge must be listed on your receipt
- Retailers will be required to fill your reusable bag if you bring one
As of December 31, 2009
- The goal is to have 50% of plastic takeout food containers compatible with Toronto's recycling program
As of June 1, 2010
- Retailers may only provide only bags accepted by Toronto's recycling program
As of December 31, 2010
- Food service companies must develop a reusable and/or refillable take-out food container or protocol
As of February 28, 2011
- The sale or distribution of plastic take-out food containers will be banned if they are not compatible with the City's recycling program
As of December 31, 2011
- City divisions are asked to develop a program that bans bottled water in all other City facilities and improves access to tap water
The city has not yet created an enforcement protocol, but is developing a bylaw to enforce the bans, with recommended fines in the range of $100 - $400 per offence.
One interesting side-effect of this program seems to be that the City will also be banning biodegradable plastic bags as of 2010, since they are not accepted in the City’s recycling program.
You can read the city's explanation of the new policies on the City of Toronto website.
Image by jslander
A step in the right direction
well its a step in the right direction, and maybe with some public pressure the compostable bags can be moved to the approved list
a stupid law
a stupid law
a stupid law that will not
a stupid law that will not do anything for the ecology.
just another example of growing socialism in this country.
Re: "a stupid law that will
Re: "a stupid law that will not..." - and your brilliant solution would be?
By-Law
Is anyone in a position to properly cite the by-law by number. I can only find commentary that reflects council's endorsement of the concept's surrounding plastic bags, but am unable to find a related by-law
follow the money
Where does the 5 cent plastic bag fee go?
Is this a new tax?
The Moron Challange
It appears to be a challenge between Mayor Miller & Premier McGuinty as to who can come up with the lamest laws. We now have to purchase bags to place garbage in, I have no issue of filling the garbage can without a bag, but than there might be vermin coming around the containers if they could get out of council chambers!
plastic bags
who ever said the bylaw was stupid is the stupid one. Do you think it's okay to fill the landfills un-biodegradeable waste.This world is polluted enough and your attitude is toxic
Time to get Mayor Miller out!
This is such a stupid law, I for one re-use all my plastic bags in the kitchen for all the food scraps and tissue we use to be recycled.
Miller has got to go. His idea of "Clean Sweep" is to sweep all these new taxes under the table. I realize the "Bag Tax" isn't really a tax, but the nickel goes back to the retailer, however, it is yet another expense from my paycheck gone.
follow the money
from what i have read the 5 cents is to go to a local charity, but i'd like to know who the gov't is going to be paying now to follow up on that?!! as far as the charging for bags, it is crazy!!! the by-law should allow the retailers to give the first bag for free. sometimes you just stop into grab a couple of things on your way around town or to/from work and i think it is nuts to expect us to pay anything over and beyond what we are paying to purchase our merchandise just because we forgot to bring a bag with us wherever we go. i am a mom with 4 children and i have to remember to bring enough with me when i go out, but now i have to remember to bring bags--just in case i end up at a mall. i would hope that we are all doing the best we can for the ecology of the planet and that is what this is all about.
Makes no sense
Anyone who doesn't know that this is a money making scam is either naive, in on it, or seriously thinks plastic is the worst problem on earth. With all the bomb testing, useless space shuttle launches, gas cars, dumping waste in our water etc. you'd think they would focus their time on something like that. If these companies or anyone really did care about the environment, why would they be charging for bags? Any place that doesn't have plastic bags anymore is selling material bags for 1$. If they really cared wouldn't they be giving them for free with every 100$ purchase or something? I heard Loblaws grocery store say they wanted to make 1-2 billion$ in one year off of bags alone, sounds like they're really concerned. To those who say it's a start, I have 2 things to say: 1. When you forget to bring one of your 10 material bags at home, are you prepared to buy another one at every store? what happens when you have too many? You throw them out anyways. 2. If you want something small to start how about getting rid of gas? Electricity has been known for some time now, and the technology is there, we're running out of gas and the earth is dying from us taking it away. If you can pass a law that bans plastic which is one of the most needed and convenient things we have, certainly you can do something for gas or anything else that needs to be solved ASAP.
Your all cheap.
For those who are complaining about this charge,IT'S A FREAKIN NICKEL!!! Stop being cheap and accept it. bring reusable bags or reuse ones that you already have. Pay one dollar for a reusable bag that will last a very long time. That will actually save you money in the long run if you think about it. Remember, 5cents, not 5 dollars.
Free Alternative??
Funny how no establishment I have shopped at are offering a "free alternative"..
Bags at take out stores
I was surprised recently at a SUBWAY store. . .
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I ordered two SUBWAY sandwiches and was asked if I wanted them in a plastic bag.
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I was also told there would be a 5 cent charge for the bag.
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I asked for one of their "free alternative bags" (hopefully paper) and was told there were no alternatives.
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I asked the store owner that if he was not going to comply with the bylaw (by offering a free alternative) then why should I by paying for plastic?
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The owner of the store told be that it was not his problem.
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So I told him I did not want his sandwich and left the store without the two sandwiches and without paying for them.
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He called me back in and gave me the bag for free.
.
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The following week the store had a paper bag for me. . .
.
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We all need to be asking for the FREE alternative and be prepaired to WALK AWAY from our potential purchase, otherwise the store will NEVER get with the program.
Duh
The rule says 'OR provide a free alternative'.
i.e. The owner had a choice between charging for the plastic bag or giving you a free non-plastic bag. The choice isn't *yours*. So basically you created a huge scene and threatened to stomp out over nothing, my guess is that you do this sort of thing all the time.