SINGLE-USE RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES
What can Businesses do?
Reducing single-use items demonstrates your business supports the environment and the fight against climate change. It can also benefit your business by reducing your inventory costs.
What you Need to Know
Reusable alternatives are the best, most sustainable option. Studies show reusable products have the lowest environmental impact if used multiple times.
Plastics labelled PET (#1), HDPE (#2) and PP (#5) are the easiest plastics to recycle. These plastics are accepted in most blue box programs and can be sold and turned into new products.
Many plastics labelled as compostable, biodegradable or bioplastic don’t break down in composting facilities and cannot be recycled. They are not accepted in most green bin and blue box programs and should go in the garbage.
Paper-based products are accepted in most green bin programs as long as they don’t have a plastic coating or lining.
Avoid:
• Black plastic lids or containers
• Plastic-wrapped cutlery and napkins
• Plastics labelled as certified compostable, biodegradable or bioplastic
• Foam cups and containers
Is Your Business Already Taking Action?
Share how your business is reducing single-use items. Your actions matter! Reducing single-use items supports York Region’s vision of a world where nothing goes to waste and advances the circular economy.
Actions you can Take
Ask First
- Train staff to ask customers if they need the single-use item before providing condiments, cutlery, napkins, straws, bags, etc.
- Keep items behind the counter
- Make items an optional check box for online takeout orders
Bring Your own (BYO)
- Encourage customers to bring their own reusable items like bags, containers, cutlery or cups
- Promote this on your website/social media channels, display signs in-store or place decals on the storefront
- Consider offering a small discount or incentive to customers who bring their own
Provide Single-use Alternatives
- Consider a 'dine-in' policy where you provide customers with reusable options like ceramic plates, mugs and silverware when they dine-in
- Use a deposit-return system for reusable containers
- If your business is unable to transition to reusable alternatives, replace non-recyclable items like black plastic or foam containers with recyclable ones accepted in York Region’s blue box.
- This includes containers that are 100% paper-based (no plastic or wax lining) or rigid, non-black plastic made from PET (#1), HDPE (#2) or PP (#5). For details on the different plastic types visit the Plastic Action Centre
- Avoid items labelled as compostable/biodegradable plastic. These are not accepted in the Region’s green bin program as they do not decompose effectively during processing
Quick Guide to Single-use Alternatives
To help you choose single-use alternatives that work best for your business refer to the chart below that lists the most environmentally-sustainable options first or download a copy of our Single-use Alternatives Guide.
| Avoid | Choose |
|---|---|
Waxed cold beverage cups Waxed/plastic-lined paper cups or foam hot beverage cups |
|
Foam or plastic-lined takeout containers Foam or plastic plates and bowls |
|
| Condiment packages | Upon request to serve:
|
| Plastic check-out bags |
Upon request to provide:
|
| Plastic cutlery/utensils |
Upon request to provide:
|
Plastic ring carriers for beverages
|
|
| Plastic straws or stir sticks ** Federal ban states people needing flexible plastic straws must bring their own |
Upon request to provide:
|
| Plastic-wrapped napkins |
Upon request to provide:
|
*Sharing programs are different than deposit return systems as some require memberships while others operate free of charge with customers borrowing, returning and even donating items.
For questions please contact [email protected] or call 1-866-665-6752.
Public Health Guidance for Food Premises
All food premises are responsible for setting their own policies.
- Food premises may choose whether to accept or not accept containers or cups supplied by customers
- Food premises with policies to accept customer-supplied reusable cups and containers must be in compliance with Ontario Regulation 493/17: Food Premises under the Health Protection and Promotion Act
Food premises must take care not to overfill containers or have spill situations. Any policies being implemented must not conflict with the Regulations.
Further guidance for food premises operators can be found at York Region Public Health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are businesses required to accept a customer’s reusable item if it’s not clean?
Food premises are responsible for setting their own policies for accepting customer/client-supplied containers and cups, including the level of cleanliness of these items. Policies being implemented must comply with the Ontario Food Premises Regulations. Some businesses choose to ban the practice of allowing reusables because of perceived liability from containers that are not properly cleansed or sanitized.
What are the regulations involved in the practice of using reusable containers and cups?
The Ontario Regulation 493/17: Food Premises under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, 1990. Businesses and customers/clients using their own containers and cups should pay close attention to the sections of this Regulation related to spills and cross-contamination. This information can be found in Sections 8 and 26 of the Ontario Food Premises Regulations.
8. (1) All equipment, utensils and multi-service articles that are used for the preparation, processing, packaging, serving, transportation, manufacture, handling, sale, offer for sale or display of food in a food premise shall be:
(a) of sound and tight construction;
(b) kept in good repair;
(c) of such form and material that it can be readily cleaned and sanitized; and
(d) suitable for their intended purpose.
(2) Equipment and utensils that come into direct contact with food shall be:
(a) corrosion-resistant and non-toxic; and
(b) free from cracks, crevices and open seams.
26. (1) All food shall be protected from contamination and adulteration.
Multi-service articles are defined as “any container or utensil that is intended for repeated use in the service or sale of food; (“article à usage multiple”)” under the regulation.
Are there any resources or supports for York Region businesses to implement reusables in their operations?
York Region is interested in hearing from businesses and residents to understand what types of resources or supports would be helpful in supporting businesses to accept customer/client-supplied cups and containers. If you have any suggestions, please email us at [email protected]
The following resources are being used in Vancouver which may be helpful to businesses in York Region. When implementing any procedural changes, businesses must be careful to remain compliant with the Ontario Regulation 493/17: Food Premises.
BYO Vancouver has infographics for:
How does a deposit return system work?
Businesses can implement a deposit return system for reusable alternatives to single-use items. These systems can be rented from companies, some of which use an app, card and/or QR codes to support the cost of delivering the service. Customers/clients become members of the service, pay a deposit fee to use the reusable alternative, then receive their deposit back upon return of the reusable item at a designated drop-off point. Businesses can reach out to these services directly to coordinate. Some deposit return companies can be found under Supplier Resources.
Can childcare centres discourage customer-supplied containers and cups?
Childcare centres have their own requirements for site-specific policies and may also have policies to allow reusable containers and cups as long as they are not in conflict with the Ontario Regulation 493/17: Food Premises. Similar to restaurants and other food service premises, particular care must be used in addressing overfilling and spill situations, and childcare centres must have utensils available if allowing a ‘bring your own container’ policy.
Have another question? Contact us at 1-877-665-6752 or email us at [email protected]
Reuseable Services and Suppliers
The following list of companies provide reusable services and supplies. Learn more by visiting their sites.
Local services and suppliers:
Services and suppliers within Canada:
Related Resources
- Circular Economy Initiatives Fund
- Circular Economy Roadmap
- Circular Marketplace
- Economic Strategy – York Link
- Public Health Food Premises Operators Resources
- Share, Reuse, Repair Hub
- Single-use Alternatives Guide for businesses
- Single-use resources for residents
- York Region’s Waste Management Master Plan
Other Resources:
Business Survey Results
York Region’s 2021 Single-Use Items Survey (completed by 1,980 respondents) indicated:
- 87% would like businesses to ask first before giving them a single-use item
- 78% would choose to shop at stores that were actively trying to reduce single-use items
- 76% would use a service that directed them to businesses reducing their use of single-use items
York Region and its local cities and towns are working together to support businesses that want to reduce single-use items. As a first step, we surveyed over 70 businesses to better understand how single-use items are used and distributed, and what barriers businesses may have to reduce these items.
Highlights from our survey can be viewed in our Single-Use Items Business Survey Summary.
Information and feedback gathered through this survey is being used to:
- Gauge interest and business support in York Region to reduce single-use items
- Develop tools to support and assist businesses in implementing an ‘ask first’ policy and to encourage customers to bring their own reusable items
- Develop a recognition program to showcase businesses that are successfully reducing or eliminating single-use items
