Resources for Individuals

Edmonton Businesses - Bulk/Unpackaged

Packaging is a leading source of waste. Much of it is unnecesary, single-use, and not recyclable. The best way to deal with packaging is to avoid it in the first place. Food, cleaning products, personal hygiene products, and much more can be found either in bulk (where you can use your own reusable bag/container) or unpackaged (such as bar soaps, candles, etc.) at the following Edmonton stores:

 

Edmonton Businesses - Zero Waste Products

Sometimes in order to reduce consumption and waste you have to buy the right product. Reusable straws, beeswax wraps, bamboo toothbrushes, glass containers, etc. can sometimes be difficult to find. The following Edmonton businesses have a variety of products that will help you move towards a reduced plastic/waste lifestyle:

Edmonton Businesses - Reused/Upcycled

When making a purchase, buying used (and donating/selling when you no longer have a need for a product) is a fantastic way to reduce over-consumption and reduce waste. The following stores in Edmonton provide goods that are either second-hand, or upcycled (new products made from old materials):

 

Edmonton Buy Nothing Groups

Buy Nothing groups are an effective, compassionate way to exchange and donate goods in a hyperlocal manner. Edmonton is avidly participating in the communal benefits of a sharing economy, and more and more neighbourhoods are joining in the shared joys of reducing waste and meeting neighbours. Check if your neighbourhood is a part of Buy Nothing on this map, or learn about how to start a group at this link.

Impact of Plastic Bag Laws Around the World

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo

  • The Law: Single-use shopping bags made of polyethylene, pulp or paper were banned in 2010. The bylaw includes 10 communities, including Fort McMurray. Reusable bags are permitted and must be more than 2.25 mm thick.
  • Impact: In the first year after implementation of the bylaw millions of plastic bags were diverted from the landfills and there was 100% compliance. A 2011 report found that approximately 70% of citizens were supportive of the ban.

Deux-Montages, Quebec

  • The Law: All forms of single-use plastic were banned in 2009.
  • Impact: Citizens of Deux-Montagnes avoided sending 1.5 million plastic bags (equivalent to 30 tons of plastic to landfills in 2010.

Toronto

  • The Law: In 2009, the City required retailers to charge 5 cents for single-use plastic bags. In 2012, City Council decided to rescind the fee.
  • Impact: City staff report noted that the fee reduced bag use by over 50% while the fee was in effect and a 26% increase in the number of bags in the waste stream a year after the fee was removed.

California State

  • The Law: California introduced a state-wide bag law in 2016, following the lead of regions of the state that got rid of plastic bags as early as 2010. The California state-wide law prohibits single-use bags (defined as any bag made out of plastic or non-recycled paper). Stores must provide customers with reusable grocery bags or with recycled paper bags for a minimum charge of 10 cents for each bag.
  • Impact: Due to both the wave of local ordinances and the statewide bag ban, plastic grocery bag litter has dropped by 72 per cent since 2010.

LA County, California

  • The Law: A ban on thin plastic bag and 10 cent charge for paper was implemented in 2010.
  • Impact: The bag ordinance reduced single-use plastic bag distribution by 94% and a 10-25% reduction in paper bag usage.

San Jose, California

  • The Law: The 2012 ordinance prohibits single-use bags and puts a 10-cent charge on permitted recycled content paper bags.
  • Impact: The law reduced plastic debris by approximately 89% in the storm drain system, 60% in the creeks and rivers, and 59% in the city. Reusable bag use increased greatly from 4-62%. However, it also led to an increase in paper bag usage (3 to 16%)

Washington, D.C

  • The Law: As of 2010, businesses must charge 5 cents for every carryout paper or plastic single-use bag. The business retains 1 cent (or 2 cents if it offers a rebate when customers bring their own bag), and the remaining 3 or 4 cents goes to the Anacostia River Clean Up and Protection Fund.
  • Impact: The nickels from the bag fee have contributed about $10 million from 2010-2014 to the Anacostia River Clean Up and Protection Fund. Varying reports found that the fee resulted in a significant reduction in the number of plastic bags (50-85%).

Seattle

  • The Law: Effective July 1, 2017, stores are prohibited from providing customers with single-use plastic carryout bags, including bags labeled “biodegradable,” “degradable,” “decomposable” or similar. It allows retail stores to provide customers with any size recyclable paper or reusable carryout bags but requires retail stores to charge a minimum of 5 cents for large paper carryout bags and the bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled fiber.
  • Impact: Six months after the ordinance took effect, approximately 100 million fewer single-use plastic bags were used.

Ireland

  • The Law: In 2002, Ireland introduced a significant tax on plastic bags (now 22 euro cents). The tax revenue goes into different programs aimed at environmental protection.
  • The impact: 90-95% reduction in plastic bag usage.

England

  • The Law: In 2015, large shops (retailers who have 250 or more employees) were required to charge 5p for all single-use plastic bags.
  • The impact: England’s plastic bag usage drops 85% since 5p charge introduced. The charge has also triggered donations of more than £29m from retailers towards good causes.

Scotland

  • The Law: In 2014 retailers were required to charge at least 5 p for all single-use plastic and paper bags.
  • Impact: 6.7 million p was raised in the fist year and there was a 80% reduction in single-use bags.

China

  • The Law: China banned ultra-thin plastic bags in 2008 and established a policy requiring stores to charge customers for thicker plastic bags.
  • Impact: Use of plastic bags has dropped by more than two-thirds. In the 5 years since the law was implemented, 67 billion less plastic bags have been consumed, saving an equivalent of 6 million tonnes of oil.