City of Toronto launches Reducing Single-Use program (formerly Voluntary Measures Program) for businesses

The City of Toronto has taken a leadership role in addressing single-use waste with the launch of its latest ReduceWasteTO program – Reducing Single-Use program. This new program is Stage 1 (formerly the Voluntary Measures Program) of the City’s Single-Use and Takeaway Items Reduction Strategy.

Through the Reducing Single-Use program, the City will provide businesses with examples of simple actions that they can take to eliminate the unnecessary use of single-use and takeaway items. The program will also recognize and showcase the leadership of businesses already taking action to eliminate waste from single-use and takeaway items, as well as service providers that are helping businesses reduce single-use waste.

All food service businesses that are already taking steps to reduce their use of single-use and takeaway items in their day-to-day operations, and service providers with innovative business solutions that help businesses to reduce their single-use waste are invited to participate by completing the Recognizing Single-Use Waste Reduction Leadership survey on the City’s Reducing Single-Use Program web page. Businesses and service providers who complete the survey by August 31, 2022, will be included in first edition of an online directory, which will let customers know where they can shop to reduce waste.

A single-use or takeaway item is any product designed to be used once, which is then disposed of in the garbage, Blue Bin (recycling) or Green Bin (organics). Typically, these items are not designed for durability or reuse. Single-use and takeaway items require valuable resources and energy to produce, collect and dispose of. They often end up in landfill or as litter, which can pose risks to the environment, animals and people.

The Reducing Single-Use program supports the City’s TransformTO Net Zero Strategy and Long Term Waste Management Strategy, which sets aspirational goals of a zero waste future and moving towards a circular economy in Toronto.

All Toronto businesses are encouraged to visit Reducing Single-Use Program – City of Toronto to find out what they can do to help reduce the unnecessary use of single-use and takeaway items in their operations.

Please email wastestrategy@toronto.ca with any questions and comments.

More information is available at: Reducing Single-Use & Takeaway Items – City of Toronto (prod-toronto.ca).