Councillors seek more data before changing bag bylaw
Edmonton's single-use item reduction bylaw has significantly reduced the use of plastic bags and straws, according to data presented to city council's utility committee. Retail bag use plummeted by 80%, while straw and utensil consumption decreased by 26%. However, takeout container usage increased by more than 75% and cup use by 5%, which was attributed to a lack of regulation of those items and a 12% population increase.
Council's utility committee decided on March 9 to await the results of a waste characterization study before making any changes to the bylaw. Coun. Mike Elliott had proposed asking administration to prepare amendments to remove the requirement for minimum fees for bags at drive-thrus, but his fellow committee members decided on further study instead. "I'm not sure I have enough good data (on fast food bags) to inform whether that should stay around, and with the frustration it causes people, I do worry about that broader impact to our overall waste diversion goals," Mayor Andrew Knack said. "There is an argument — potentially, depending on the data — that this actually might cost Edmontonians less overall, through our waste management system, through our landfills, than the bag charge." (Hear more about the debate on Episode 347 of Speaking Municipally.)
Mandatory bag fees have been unpopular with some citizens since they came into force in July 2023. Coun. Keren Tang said she heard more about the single-use items bylaw than infill in the lead-up to the 2025 municipal election. Calgary repealed its bylaw on single-use items in 2024, a little more than one year after it was enacted. Premier Danielle Smith has long opposed such regulations and suggested in May 2024 that she'd like to see other municipalities follow Calgary's suit.
