Single-use items reduction strategy and ban


person using a reusable cup at a coffee shop

Background information

In 2019, Guelph City Council directed staff to develop a strategy to eliminate or reduce single-use plastics (SUPs) as part of the Solid Waste Management Master Plan (SWMMP) process. Based on Council’s direction and based on the feedback we received during extensive community engagement, Council approved the single-use items (SUI) reduction strategy on April 25, 2022.

The purpose of this strategy is to encourage sustainable behavior among residents and implement procedural changes in businesses to decrease single-use item waste.
Since 2023, Guelph has banned:

  • Single Use Plastic shopping bags, with some exemptions (listed in FAQ)
  • Polystyrene foam cups and takeout containers

Effective March 1, 2025:

  • Businesses must accept a customer’s clean reusable drink cup for beverage orders made in-store. (Exemptions apply to charitable or non-profit organizations, hospital or community care facilities, alcoholic beverages, and special events.)
  • Businesses must only offer single-use accessory food ware items (e.g., utensils, stir sticks, condiments, and beverage trays) by request and/or at self-serve stations.
  • Paper shopping bags must contain 40% post-consumer recycled content and clearly indicated in print on the bag.

Effective September 1, 2025:

  • Businesses must accept a customer’s clean reusable food container for food orders made in-store. (Exemptions apply to charitable or non-profit organizations, hospital or community care facilities, special events, and self-serve businesses like buffets, salad bars, and all-you-can-eat restaurants. An exemption applies to food-service businesses that have their own reusable-container policy outlining specific and limited conditions for accepting reusable-containers.)

Business requirements


Most recent update

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)


Federal government’s ban on single-use plastics

The Federal Government’s Single-Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations, in effect since 2022, are part of Canada’s broader strategy to combat pollution, achieve zero plastic waste by 2030, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Although the Federal Court in Ottawa overturned the national single-use ban on November 16, 2023, the Government of Canada appealed this decision on December 8, 2023. On January 25, 2024, the Federal Court of Appeal granted a stay motion, preventing the November 16 ruling from taking effect while the appeal is ongoing. As a result, the Single-Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations remain in force.

Resources

For more information

Solid Waste Resources
519-767-0598
TTY: 519-826-9771
[email protected]