Plastic Bags Fee Bylaw Requiring Businesses to Charge Customers Single-Use Paper Bags a Fee Per Item Single-Use Hot Drink Cups Single-Use Cold Drink Cups
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Attachment 3a Single-Use and Takeaway Items Reduction Strategy Phase 2 Public Consultation Report February 2020 Public Consultation Unit Policy, Planning, Finance & Administration City of Toronto Metro Hall 55 John Street, 19th Floor Toronto, Ontario M5V 3C6 Prepared by: Robyn Shyllit, Senior Coordinator Email: [email protected] Phone: 416-392-3358 1 Contents 1.0 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Key Findings ........................................................................................................................................ 1 2.0 Overview ................................................................................................................................................. 5 2.1 Consultation Summary ........................................................................................................................ 5 2.2 Goals and Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 6 3.0 Activities .................................................................................................................................................. 6 3.1 General Communications and Notification......................................................................................... 6 3. 2 Community Outreach ......................................................................................................................... 7 3.3 Stakeholder Consultation.................................................................................................................... 8 3.4 Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee ....................................................................................... 10 3.5 Public Consultation ........................................................................................................................... 11 3.6 Independent Poll ............................................................................................................................... 12 3.7 Online Survey .................................................................................................................................... 12 4.0 Stakeholder Feedback Summary .......................................................................................................... 13 4.1 Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee ....................................................................................... 13 4.2 Circular Economy Working Group .................................................................................................... 13 5.0 Public Consultation Feedback ............................................................................................................... 22 5.1 Public Event, Telephone/Web Town Hall, Email & Phone Correspondence .................................... 22 5.2 Independent Poll ............................................................................................................................... 24 5.3 Online Survey ................................................................................................................................... 25 Appendices A. Public Notices B. Meeting Materials i. Public Meeting Presentation & Comment Form ii. Stakeholder Meeting Presentation & Comment Form C. Comment List – Stakeholder Meetings, Stakeholder Submissions, Public Event, Telephone Town Hall, One Window Commenting D. Public Survey Report E. Public Opinion Poll Report F. Tele town Hall Report 1 1.0 Executive Summary This report details the activities and results from Phase 2 Consultation on the development of the City of Toronto’s Single-Use and Takeaway Reduction Strategy (“Reduction Strategy”) that took place between September 24 and December 10, 2019. During Phase 2 Consultation, members of the public and stakeholders were provided with opportunities to provide feedback on a list of potential single-use and takeaway items, proposed mandatory approaches to reduce the item, any considerations for exemptions and accommodations, proposed implementation timelines, and additional voluntary programs. The proposed items and mandatory approaches presented for public consultation included: Table 1: Proposed Items and approaches Mandatory Approach Item By-request / ask first bylaw requiring confirmation Single-use eating utensils from the customer if the item is wanted Single-use straws Single-use plastic bags Fee bylaw requiring businesses to charge customers Single-use paper bags a fee per item Single-use hot drink cups Single-use cold drink cups Ban bylaw that would prohibit businesses from Expanded polystyrene (foam) food takeaway distributing and using the item containers and cups Stakeholder consultation activities included participation from 121 organizations through meetings, discussions, presentations and communications. Public consultation activities engaged more than 40,000 individuals through public meetings, community outreach, independent polling, telephone town halls, surveys, and communications campaigns. 1.1 Key Findings 1.1.1 Strong support Both the online survey and independent polling demonstrated consistent support for reducing the items presented in consultations through the proposed mandatory approaches. For those participants who recommended a mandatory fee approach, the average recommended fee per item is between $0.20 and $0.39. In terms of priority, both straws and expanded polystyrene (foam) were identified as the highest priority items for a reduction strategy. Table 2: Comparison of support between online survey and independent poll. Mandatory Approach Online Survey Independent Poll By-Request/ Ask first: 93% support 75% support Eating Utensils $0.39/cup $0.22/cup Fee: Hot Drink Cup 84% support 64% support (Average fee suggested) (Average fee suggested) up cup Fee: Cold Drink Cup 84% support. $0.39/c 63% support $0.22/ (Average fee suggested) (Average fee suggested) 1 Mandatory Approach Online Survey Independent Poll Ban: Expanded Polystyrene, (Foam) Food Takeaway 95% support 76% support Containers, Cups $0.36/bag 0.22/bag Fee: Plastic Bags 91% support 77% support (Average fee suggested) (Average fee suggested) 0.20/bag $0.25/bag Fee: Paper Bags 64% support 53% support (Average fee suggested) (Average fee suggested) By-Request/ Ask First: Straws 92% support 77% support Top 3 items Top 3 items 1. expanded polystyrene (foam) 1. straws Implementation Priority 2. straws 2. expanded polystyrene (foam) 3. eating utensils 3. plastic bags 1.1.2 The recommendations do not go far enough A significant amount of participants expressed feelings that the proposed approaches would not be enough to reduce single-use and takeaway items, and that all-out bans, especially for plastic items such as bags, straws, cutlery, cups and takeout containers are more appropriate and necessary to achieve the City’s reduction goals. These comments were shared amongst those who support and oppose the proposed mandatory approaches. This suggests that many participants who oppose the strategies would be supportive of stricter measures. 1.1.3 Compostable materials should be used as alternatives to plastic A common theme that emerged through consultation was for the City to consider allowing compostable alternatives as a suitable replacement for conventional plastic single-use and takeaway items. It was clarified during consultation that the City of Toronto’s Green Bin Organics program does not accept plastic products and packaging labelled as "compostable", as these items would be removed during the pre-processing stage at the City’s organics processing facilities and disposed at the landfill. Some comments from our stakeholders suggest that there is not a general awareness of the operational challenges to compost compostable plastic, revealing that business establishments that provide such items are confused by the label the product is marketed with. Results from independent polling found residents are confused on the proper disposal of products that are marketed as "compostable" with only one in five residents correctly placing these items in the garbage. Polling results indicated that 40% of residents incorrectly place "compostable" products in the Blue Bin and 35% place them in the Green Bin. 1.1.4 Black plastic takeout containers should be considered for reduction Comments received through all consultation activities support the City in addressing black plastic takeout food containers. Independent polling results found two thirds (64%) of residents believe the City should include black plastic food containers in the Reduction Strategy, and 80% believe that they should be placed on the City's top two priorities for expanding the Reduction Strategy to include other materials. 2 1.1.5 Paper and fibre items should not be restricted Many participants considered paper-based single-use and takeaway items to be better for the environment and should not restricted in the same way as non-paper items. According to independent polling, single-use paper bags received the lowest support with 44% of participants ranking single-use paper bags as the lowest priority item to be addressed through the Reduction Strategy. 1.1.6 Public education and training is required Stakeholders from a variety of sectors, and members of the public felt that there is a risk of tension between customers and front-counter staff if there is any confusion on the bylaw