You may soon be paying more for reusable shopping bags in Toronto. Here’s what you need to know
Coun. Jennifer McKelvie, chair of the infrastructure and environmental committee, said the minimum fee is important because she wants people to attribute a value to the reusable items by keeping them rather than disposing of them.
“We’re already seeing early adoption, even before these recommendations have been passed,” she said in an interview with the Star. “I have every confidence that we’ll be successful in this strategy.”
If the plan is approved, all businesses would have to comply by March 1, 2024, and begin charging shoppers a minimum of $1 per bag by May 1, 2024. The minimum price would increase to $2 the following year.
Not everyone is on board with this waste reduction strategy.
Michelle Wasylyshen, national spokesperson for the Retail Council of Canada, says the City of Toronto should be cautious when mandating minimum fees for reusable bags.
