Government of Canada’s Single-use Plastic Prohibition Regulations

Much is being done to help reduce single-use items across Canada.

The Government of Canada

The Government of Canada's approach is to prevent problematic plastics from entering the market through a ban on the manufacture of plastic shopping bags, plastic straws, stir sticks, utensils, foam cups, and other types of plastics that are difficult to recycle.

In November 2023, the Federal Court issued a ruling overturning the federal government’s Ministerial Order designating all plastic manufactured items to be “toxic substances” under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). This ruling has raised questions about the federal Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations; however, the regulations are still in effect.

Businesses who manufacture, distribute, sell, supply or use the six categories of single-use plastic products should continue to comply with the regulations and not make any changes to their existing plans.

The City of Calgary

The City’s new bylaw reduces waste by encouraging Calgarians to choose reusable options where possible and to only ask for the single-use items they need.

On January 30, 2024, Calgary City Council voted to begin the process to consider repealing the existing Single-Use Items Bylaw (1H2023), following deliberation and consideration of various factors impacting our city's residents, businesses, and waste reduction efforts. The process takes time due to legislative requirements, and the item is currently expected to be discussed at a Public Hearing meeting of Council on May 7, 2024.

The current Single-use Items Bylaw is still in effect until the repeal process is complete, and as such, businesses can be expected to follow it as they would any other bylaw.

Contact us

If you have questions regarding the bylaw or the repeal, fill out the online service request below or contact 311.

Submit a 311 request

Supporting documents

Policy differences at a glance

The City of Calgary Approach – Bylaw in effect Jan 16, 2024 Government of Canada Approach – ban in effect Dec 20, 2023

Purpose of policy

 Reducing single-use items by avoiding them, asking for items as needed or choosing reusable options. Eliminate problematic and hard to recycle plastics.

Shopping bags

 Mandatory minimum fee on new paper and reusable shopping bags. Bags available by request only. Ban on sale and provision of single-use plastic shopping bags.

Foodware accessories (utensils, straws, stir sticks, pre-packaged condiments and napkins)

 Single-use foodware accessories available by request only. Ban on sale and provision of single-use plastic utensils, stir sticks and plastic straws (with exemptions.)

Food serviceware

 Voluntary initiatives to reduce waste from single-use food serviceware. Ban on sale and provision of single-use food serviceware made from: foam, black plastic, PVC and oxo-degradable plastic.

Disposable cups

 Voluntary initiatives to reduce waste from single-use cups. Ban on sale and provision of single-use foam cups.

Additional resources

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