Edmonton’s single-use waste rules unpopular — but working

Edmonton's single-use waste rules were controversial and unpopular when introduced in 2023 — but new data shows the changes are having the intended effect of reducing garbage.

The City of Edmonton’s single-use waste bylaw was highly controversial and unpopular when it was first enacted a few years ago — but data shows it is having the intended effect.

Edmontonians are using significantly fewer single-use shopping bags since the City of Edmonton enacted the Single-use Item Reduction Bylaw (20117) on July 1, 2023, according to new data presented to council members on Monday.

Under the bylaw, single-use plastic shopping bags (including compostable or biodegradable) were banned and Styrofoam plates, cups and containers also no longer allowed. The bylaw also introduced the bag fee, which is currently 25 cents for paper bags and $2 for reusable ones.

City officials say the use of single-use bags like paper ones at fast-food drive-thrus has dropped by about 80 per cent since the bylaw took effect — a change they attribute in part to the fee charged to customers.

The figures were presented Monday to the city’s utility committee as part of a broader update on efforts to reduce single-use items.

Ward O-day’min Coun. Anne Stevenson said the bag charge appears to have played a key role in reducing use.

“What I noticed was the biggest success is where we’ve added a financial incentive for folks, specifically around that bag charge,” Stevenson said.

Under the bylaw, accessories such as utensils, straws, condiment packets and napkins are only available by request or self-serve, but in drive-thrus, customers must be asked if they want any of them. City data shows their use has dropped 27 per cent since the rules were introduced.