City of Edmonton asks for feedback on Single Use Bylaw – Edmonton

It's been a year and a half since the City of Edmonton introduced the single-use bylaw, which bans the handing out of plastic shopping bags and other single-use items and introduced a fee for things like paper bags at restaurants.

Edmontonians have had mixed feelings about the changes and now the city is asking them to officially share their thoughts.

The findings of the study (link below) could bring about changes.

Forgetting your reusable bag usually means you'll have to pay another fee, but that regulation is getting a second look.

“If it is effective, we will continue with it. If it is not effective, we will adapt it to make some changes,” said Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.

On July 1, 2023, the City of Edmonton introduced the Disposables Reduction Bylaw.

The aim is to reduce the number of single-use items handed out in the city, and not necessarily to ditch plastic items for non-plastic ones.

The regulation also introduced the baggage fee. That fee increased last summer: Stores must charge 25 cents for paper bags and $2 for reusable bags.

Now the city has opened a survey for Edmonton residents and business owners.

“It's part of the engagement and understanding whether the statutes are effective or not. I think there will be a report coming to the city council early next year,” Sohi said.

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An Edmonton city councilor is watching closely as Calgary decides to repeal its single-use bylaw

The survey asks Edmontonians whether they think the bylaw reduces waste, how often they use reusable bags or cups and how often they pay bag fees.

It also asks business owners about their use of single-use items, how often they sell bags and whether they support the ordinance.

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Councilor Michael Janz believes this will make the city cleaner.

“I think it was a big shock for some people at first, but we changed our behavior. I think people are starting to realize, 'Okay, this is here to stay.' We see less litter on the ground, we see less waste. I think the regulation serves its purpose,” Janz said.

Reversing the disposable ordinance is not new in our province.

In Calgary, intense opposition from residents led to the single-use ordinance being defeated just two weeks after it was introduced.

Janz says the feedback he gets on the bylaw is 50-50. However, the people Global News spoke to would like to see the statutes changed.

“I think it should reflect what people want. So it's a good thing to happen, but I think it just covers costs. I think it has very little to do with the environment,” says Anthony van den Biggelaar.

Another believes the city should focus on bigger issues.

“I think they should just bring the bags back and find out what the real problems are,” says Iolanda van den Biggelaar.

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City council is repealing Calgary's single-use bylaw after public opposition

The survey is open on the city ​​website until November 19 for residents and entrepreneurs.

And Mayor Sohi says if Edmontonians say it's not working, big changes could follow.

“Then we have to look at that again and I am open to that.”

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