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Single-Use and Takeaway Items Reduction Strategy

Friends,

At the December 2023 City Council meeting, Council voted to advance the Single-Use and Takeaway Items Reduction Strategy into Stage 2 by adopting staff report recommendations, and introducing a new Single-Use and Takeaway Items Bylaw (SUTI Bylaw). This represents an important step forward in Toronto’s circular economy transition and pathway towards more sustainable consumption.

The goal of the new  SUTI Bylaw is to address the unnecessary use and disposal of specific single-use and takeaway items and eliminate them from becoming litter or entering Toronto’s waterways.

The SUTI Bylaw took effect on March 1, 2024, and includes the following requirements for retail business establishments:

  • Ask-First/By-Request
    • Prior to distributing a single-use accessory food item, either (i) ask a customer if they need the item, (ii) have a customer request the item, or (iii) make the item available to customers at a self-serve station.
    • Prior to distributing a single-use paper shopping bag, either (i) ask a customer if they need the bag or (ii) have a customer request the bag.
  • Accept the use of Reusable Items
    • Accept the use of reusable shopping bags and reusable beverage cups brought by customers.
  • Ensure Compatibility of Bags
    • Only distribute single-use paper shopping bags that are compatible with the City’s waste diversion programs to customers.

As a result of these requirements, customers can increasingly expect to only receive single-use items, such as utensils, napkins, condiment packages, stir sticks and straws, that they really need.

For its part, the City is committed to helping retail business establishments comply with the bylaw through targeted education and outreach activities as part of the rollout of Stage 2 of the Reduction Strategy.

The City is also working toward Stage 3 of the Reduction Strategy to look at further measures to be considered for large event venues, and any requirements for retail businesses to accept customers’ reusable food containers and to use reusable items for dine-in operations. For more information on the City’s Reduction Strategy, including a directory of businesses and service providers that are showing leadership in reducing waste, please visit toronto.ca/single-use.

 

Sincerely,

Gord

Other News

- First meeting of the Housing Rights Advisory Committee

- Vacant Tax Deadline Extended

- City of Toronto March Break Programs + Free Skate at Coca-Cola Museum

- Outdoor Work Assistance for Seniors

 

First Meeting of the Housing Rights Advisory Committee

The Housing Rights Advisory Committee (HRAC) is a new Council Advisory Body that will provide advice to Toronto City Council to ensure that the interests and needs of those with living or lived experience of housing precarity, discrimination and homelessness are reflected in City policies, programs and service delivery. More information is available at: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/#/committees/2750/25197

The first meeting of this Advisory Committee will be held on March 18, 2024 in Committee Room 2, Toronto City Hall.

Councillor Perks is a member of the HRAC and will be in attendance.

Vacant Homes Tax deadline extended to March 15

The City of Toronto will continue to accept Vacant Home Tax (VHT) declarations of occupancy status from residential property owners until March 15. The deadline to declare was February 29, and the City’s Executive Committee has recommended extending this deadline to accept late submissions for an additional two weeks. Toronto City Council will officially consider the proposal at its next meeting.

Full details about the Vacant Home Tax, the available exemptions and how to submit a declaration of property occupancy status are available on the City’s Vacant Home Tax webpage.

City of Toronto March Break Programs

There’s something for everyone this March Break as the City of Toronto offers many affordable – and many free – activities for students and their families between Monday, March 11 and Friday, March 15.

Find the complete list here. 

There will also be free skate at Coca-Cola Museum on the CNE grounds.

Seniors Assistance Home Maintenance Program

If you are a senior, or an individual with disabilities or convalescing who requires help with outdoor work like grass cutting, leaf raking, or even light gardening, TGIP (Toronto Intergenerational Partnerships in Community) have workers to assist.  For more information visit www.tigp.org

To connect regarding a worker call Kevin at 416-531-8447 or email [email protected]

Latest posts

Demonstrations Bylaw

Friends,

The City of Toronto is moving ahead with public consultation for a proposed demonstrations bylaw to protect vulnerable institutions, as directed by City Council (2024.CC24.2).

In February 2024, City Council directed the City Manager to develop a policy framework for the management and monitoring of rallies and protests, ensuring alignment with the City’s Human Rights and Anti-Harassment Policy.

The Report presented to City Council in December, 2024, presented a Policy framework that clarifies the City’s role, jurisdiction and municipal tools available to respond to demonstrations, including the role of applicable City divisions, and provided an overarching foundation of how the City coordinates its activities to determine an appropriate response based on the circumstances of the situation.

I supported the adoption of the Policy Framework.

However, this report included a recommendation (#3) that the City Manager report back with a proposed bylaw that limits demonstrations in our city. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.CC24.2

This was a very difficult decision however, I could not support this direction as I believe that restricting people’s ability to protest is a step backward. It takes away people’s rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I believe the preservation of these rights in their entirety is essential to protecting the most vulnerable segments of our society, and our democracy. I spoke to my reasoning for not supporting this direction; you can listen to it here.

The City is now moving ahead with the public consultation .

This multi-pronged public consultation approach will include the following:

Online Survey

Written Comments

Public Discussions

  • Additional opportunities to participate in public discussions will follow in April. More information on the dates of the public discussions will be communicated and posted on the City’s webpage once confirmed.

Information and additional details on the City’s public consultation can be found on the City’s webpage at: http://toronto.ca/PublicConsult.

The consultation is an opportunity to take part in this conversation. I encourage you to participate.

Sincerely,

In This Week's Newsletter

City Wide Updates 

  • Zoning for Housing – Upcoming City Planning Consultations
    • Garden Suites Monitoring Program
    • Expanding Permissions in Neighbourhoods for Sixplexes Citywide
  • Help shape the next Toronto Seniors’ Strategy 

Ward 4

  • Swansea Town Hall Community Centre - Seeking New Board Members & Assistant Executive Director 
  • Greenest City: Parkdale Seedy Sunday & Ecofair 2025 - Volunteer Call
  • Toronto Hydro Construction Notice - Glenlake Ave.
  • Road Rehabilitation Construction Notice - Evans Ave
  • Developments
    • 3459-3461 Dundas St W
    • 138 Dowling Ave

Anyone can experience homelessness. Everyone deserves shelter.

Friends,

Anyone can experience homelessness.

Shelters in our city provide essential support to individuals in immediate housing crisis, act as a stepping stone to permanent housing, reduce reliance on other high-cost services (e.g. emergency rooms), and bring people indoors, providing an alternative to sleeping in parks, sidewalks, or transit stations.

The positive impact of shelter service is evident in the stories of individuals who have successfully transitioned from shelter into permanent housing. Some have bravely shared their stories: Successful Pathways to Housing – City of Toronto .

Shelters provide critical services to help individuals experiencing homelessness gain stability as they work toward permanent housing.

The City has a 10-year plan to improve and expand our shelter system: Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy (HSCIS).

One pillar of the 10-year strategy is building up to 20 permanent and purpose-built shelters, with a focus on expanding outside of the downtown core to address gaps in available services for people.     

Community engagement is a crucial component to supporting the successful integration of new shelters into the neighbourhood. The City is committed to engaging the community to support the program’s success – both for the individuals who will be staying at shelters and the surrounding community. The process includes communicating details about the shelter development process, responding to community inquiries and concerns, improving public understanding of shelter development and providing ongoing shelter updates. Details will be shared with each community as development of each site progresses and can be found online at toronto.ca/NewShelters . 

I am encouraged by the City’s Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy (HSCIS) and will continue to use my voice and vote on Council to support improving and increasing our shelter infrastructure and expediting the City’s delivery of housing.

Sincerely,

In This Week's Newsletter

City Wide Updates 

  • Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy (TSNS) Community Networks Launching
  • Spring Flooding: Flood Preparedness Resources
  • Committee of Adjustment Annual Stakeholder Update and Engagement
  • Celebrate Community Story Telling at City Hall

Ward 4

  • BenTastic Magic Show at Parkdale Library
  • High Park Prescribed Burn
  • Construction Notice: Road Resurfacing on Weatherell Street from Rivercrest Rd to Jane St
  • Greenest City: Parkdale Seedy Sunday & Ecofair 2025

Potential Labour Strike & Disruptions

Friends,

Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 79, the union representing the City’s 27,000 city workers will be in a legal strike at 12:01 a.m., or one minute past midnight, on Saturday, March 8 if an agreement is not reached before then.

City Manager Paul Johnson has provided updates on city services that may be impacted in the event of a labour disruption.

A labour disruption would result in the closure of all 39 City-operated early learning and child care centres, as well as the closure and cancellation of programming at all City recreation centres including March Break camps. Refunds will be issued for any paid recreation programs that are affected and clients will not be charged for days that City-operated child care centres are closed.

The City will remain prepared to respond to emergencies if a labour disruption occurs. Emergency response by the Toronto Police Service, Toronto Fire Services and Toronto Paramedic Services will not be impacted. The Toronto Community Crisis Service will operate normally. Winter maintenance operations for roads and sidewalks will continue.

Seniors Services and Long-Term Care, TTC, Toronto Community Housing and Toronto Water operations will continue during a labour disruption. All City-operated and funded shelters, 24-hour respite and drop-in programs will remain open. The City will continue to activate additional services during colder temperatures, including Warming Centres.

Information on City services and bargaining updates can be found on the City’s website at www.toronto.ca/labour.

Sincerely,

In This Week's Newsletter

City Wide Updates 

  • Prepare for potential flooding
  • Bylaw update for Accessible Parking Permit holders
  • Reminder: Vacant Home Tax Declaration

Ward 4

  • Family Skate at Coca Cola Coliseum
  • Artists in Flux 2: Empowerment
  • CommunitiCare Health Taking New Patients
  • Greenest City: Parkdale Seedy Sunday & Ecofair 2025
More — Read Our Weekly Newsletter

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