With Edmonton’s Single-use Item Reduction Bylaw coming into effect on July 1, 2023, most of RCC’s members are well-positioned and supportive of implementing practices that have become commonplace in many Canadian municipalities.
However, unlike other regions, Edmonton’s bylaw requires quick service restaurants to provide reusable cups for customers dining in. This proves to be a challenging task for members for a number of reasons, including space limitations for sterilization equipment, difficulties sourcing cups, the cost of equipment and cups, and for others the practical reality of highly anticipated theft that all have the potential of adding additional cost pressures.
On Friday, June 23, 2023, RCC met with the Edmonton’s mayor’s office to raise these challenges, and to ensure that we set expectations on July 1, 2023, as QSRs continue to navigate the requirements of this piece of the bylaw. During this meeting, we also requested clarity regarding how paper bag fees should be applied, as Edmonton’s bylaw applies to all carryout paper bags, regardless of size and there is concern that Edmontonians will push bags against small bag applied fees, and stores may not apply fees correctly when items are bagged within a larger bag. The city has committed to trying to secure clarity for us by the end of the week.
For questions or more information contact
John Graham
Director, Government Relations (Prairies)
jgraham@retailcouncil.org
204 926-8624
