Staff to also implement and include the use of re-usable containers within the bylaw with the same effective date as the Single-Use Items Phase 2 timeline…

1:06:40To start off maybe with a bit of history

1:06:42Council directed staff to explore viable options to reduce and or eliminate single-use plastics and wealth

1:06:49As part of the scope of the solid waste management master plan review

1:06:54The single-use items report responds to council's resolutions on the single-use item strategy on april 25th of 2022

1:07:02The master plan recommended a phased approach to reduce single-use items

1:07:07In phase one council approved the single-use items bylaw

1:07:11banning plastic shopping bags and polystyrene foam cups and takeout containers as of january 1st 2023

1:07:18There has been strong compliance related to phase one of the sui bylaw

1:07:23For phase two council directed staff to engage further with the accessibility advisory committee and collect feedback from the community

1:07:31About paying fees for single-use beverage cups and reusable bags

1:07:37Staff have also engaged and responded to the accessibility advisory committee's recommendations

1:07:42Which included that through the federal government single-use plastics prohibitions regulations

1:07:47A municipality cannot offer free or subsidized single-use plastic straws

1:07:54As part of phase two

1:07:56fees on disposable cups and shopping bags were reviewed as a method

1:08:01To promote reuse however jurisdictions who tried this approach were unsuccessful and had fees rescinded

1:08:07So city staff will not be mandating fees or recommending fees on these items due to the current economic climate

1:08:14Instead wealth is opted to implement measures in our bylaw that encourage sustainable practices by residents and businesses

1:08:21municipalities with similar sui strategies and bylaws

1:08:25Include toronto, bamf, edmonton, vancouver, and those are all summarized in the council report for you

1:08:33Based on the additional feedback and survey results from food service businesses and the community city staff are recommending

1:08:40Three items to council today to come into effect on march 1st 2025 through approval of the bylaws

1:08:46The first is that businesses must accept the customers clean reusable drink beverage for orders made in store

1:08:54exemptions applied to charitable or nonprofit organizations

1:08:58hospitals and community care facilities those dispensing alcoholic beverages and special events

1:09:05municipalities that require businesses to accept the customers reusable cup also include edmonton, bamf, and toronto

1:09:16Businesses the second item was that businesses must also

1:09:19Only offer single-use accessory food wear items

1:09:22such as utensils stir sticks condiments beverage cup sleeve trays

1:09:27sleeves trays

1:09:29Except for straws by request and or itself service stations

1:09:33These are municipal best practices again in toronto vancouver edmonton and bamf

1:09:38And applies to orders made in store drive-thrus and mobile orders

1:09:43Common practice by businesses on ordering platforms and providing items at self-serve stations

1:09:48Very strong support through engagement surveys for actions to reduce single-use accessory food wear items

1:09:54There were only seven percent of respondents that said no to measures on sgp items

1:09:58and utensils

1:10:00Responses from business showed 62 to 93 support depending on the item

1:10:06The third item is paper shopping bags must contain 40 post consumer recycled content

1:10:12Guelph is the first large urban municipality in ontario to implement a single-use items ban

1:10:17And as a leader in action at sui's in ontario

1:10:20Guelph will be the first in ontario to include post consumer recycled content for paper bags

1:10:26why 40

1:10:28municipal best practice industry best practice and likely the amount of recycled content feasible for manufacturers to include in their products

1:10:37The following municipalities also include a 40 recycled content requirement

1:10:42Edmonton bamf vancouver the province of bc single-use and plastic waste prevention regulation

1:10:48Uconn has also banned sgp shopping bags and paper bags

1:10:53If phase two is passed by council businesses will receive nine months notice before implementation to provide businesses with adequate time

1:11:00to prepare and use up any existing inventory

1:11:04What will our engagement look like going forward?

1:11:07Upon council approval staff will continue to engage with the wellington dufferin guelph public health department

1:11:14To develop resources to support businesses and complying with single-use items bylaws and the food premises regulation

1:11:20and provide those resources to businesses

1:11:23Staff will also develop comprehensive promotion education materials for businesses to communicate these changes to their staff

1:11:30and to their customers

1:11:32That is the end of the presentation

1:11:34I would like to acknowledge heather connell and nicole davidson

1:11:37On my right to put a lot of time and effort into this and did a lot of great research

1:11:41Across canada to put this policy together for your consideration today. I'd like to thank council for their time. Thank you

1:11:48Thank you very much. And since we have no delegations

1:11:51I'm going to ask you to stay at the podium because i'm certain there will be some questions

1:11:55okay

1:11:57Councillor goller, would you kick us off?

1:11:59great

1:12:00Oh, actually would you move them the motion great

1:12:04Okay, so it's councillor goller and merga through a second great. So now the motions are on the floor

1:12:09Go ahead

1:12:10Thank you. I'm through your chair work

1:12:13Thank you so much for the presentation. I was

1:12:16Disappointed to see that we're not recommending

1:12:19the

1:12:20The fees but I understand given the research that you've done and the climate why we're not asking for that

1:12:27With regards to the exemptions for

1:12:30Reusable cups

1:12:32Would the guidelines encourage them? I understand that you know if it's a small church group or a non-profit organization

1:12:38They might have a harder time having reusable

1:12:42Drink containers on hand, but as part of the guidelines will will those groups still be encouraged even though they're exempt

1:12:53Through the chair to councillor goller. Yes, some are we currently have guidelines for things like special events where we do encourage

1:13:00Reusable so that we continue to practice. It's just not mandated

1:13:05Well, thank you very much for that. I'm really happy that this is coming to us. Appreciate it

1:13:09Okay, other questions

1:13:12My ones

1:13:14All right, I have a few questions

1:13:16Um, and they're from an economic development perspective. So yes, we have the I'm glad that we're maintaining the environmental leadership

1:13:23And at the same time I want to understand

1:13:26I see that you talked 200 businesses

1:13:28But I'm just wondering part of the challenge of recycling initiatives and and other mandates

1:13:34Is that sometimes Ontario can have a patchwork?

1:13:36And so did you hear any concern from?

1:13:40local businesses around

1:13:42Their ability to meet their requirements

1:13:47So to the chair no, we did not hear any concerns from local businesses about that. We have seen in other jurisdictions

1:13:55municipalities pushing the

1:13:58I guess their agenda in

1:14:00in

1:14:01Reducing the amount of single-use items. So in other parts some McDonald's has actually

1:14:07Move to more sustainable measures because of municipal action. So we're hoping to see that same type of action here

1:14:12As well, there's a friendlier company in Guelph that developed their model for reusable. So it does promote

1:14:18increasing economic development within our community

1:14:22Okay, terrific. And my second question is around enforcement. So

1:14:26Um, we pass the bylaw we have an expectation for businesses. Are are we going to be

1:14:32Checking this or is it a bit an honor system? How does that work? Right? Is it is it aspirational or is it punitive?

1:14:41It is

1:14:45What I would say when we look at enforcement initially it's always about going out and educating and communicating

1:14:51And we found that that's probably the best way to go about it

1:14:55I believe when we had phase one and jumping if my numbers are wrong

1:14:58we had

1:15:00We did have to go out to 12 businesses

1:15:03Who we were told we're not complying with phase one through education and communication

1:15:08They did end up in compliance. Some were just wanting to use old inventory

1:15:12So we find that's the best approach to use and that's the approach we're going to use going forward

1:15:16So if a complaint comes in staff will go out investigate and have a discussion with a business owner

1:15:21Okay, and what's the mechanism

1:15:25Uh to be constantly getting feedback from businesses. So is there is there a

1:15:30Do we revisit the bylaw in a year to see that it's working well or whether it needs to be tweaked?

1:15:35Um, what's the mechanism for that? Is it on an as needed basis?

1:15:40Through the chair. Yes, we'd be on a as needed basis. Um, so we all we will be taking feedback from businesses

1:15:46We'll be going out with the promotional educational materials

1:15:49So there'll be a natural way to communicate back to staff and we will be hearing if there's any concerns and what actions

1:15:55If any we need to take

1:15:56Okay, great. Thank you. I see councillor Allt and councillor billings

1:16:02Thank you very much, uh chair work. Uh, this is a bit of a

1:16:07challenging question for me. It uh, it revolves around fundraising activities and community activities such as

1:16:14Uh, the multicultural festival and rib fest. Um, I think mayor chair, arach

1:16:19Put the question quite appropriately when she made reference to

1:16:24punitive or or educator

1:16:27groups like

1:16:28Ribfest and the multicultural festival

1:16:31Are challenged to get it right

1:16:34how do we

1:16:36deal with them and the the the huge volumes of waste that are created there and

1:16:43Must be sorted and are not necessarily sorted successfully

1:16:51So through the chair to councillor Allt we do have a guide for waste sorting and

1:16:57waste prevention practices

1:16:59at special events. Um, so both those ones you indicated do apply for a special event permit and have requirements to meet

1:17:08So of course we would help provide promotion and education materials to increase that

1:17:12um, it is

1:17:14Optional for them to do the single use item requirements of this bylaw, but it is encouraged in in the documentation

1:17:22And certainly I do recognize that both do make every effort, but uh, it is is also I recognize the challenge for them

1:17:29Thank you very much for the optional comment. I hope we'll continue down the road to education

1:17:36Thank you the councillor Allt councillor billings

1:17:38Through you madam chair, I was just curious. Um, under the financial implications for phase two

1:17:44promotion and etc

1:17:46Um, it just says it's contained within the multi-year budget. So I was just wondering

1:17:51What what is the financial cost to implement phase two?

1:17:57So through the chair and to councillor billings we typically would use about seven thousand to ten thousand dollars in promotion and education money

1:18:04to pay for

1:18:06collateral development

1:18:08printing

1:18:09Communication to to the businesses and the community

1:18:12Okay, thanks for that and then also I wasn't really clear

1:18:18You know working with the health unit through you madam chair. So

1:18:21so

1:18:22With you like the reusable cups. So

1:18:26Did the health unit have zero concern?

1:18:32Yes, so through counts or through the chair to councillor billings. Yes, we didn't hear any concerns from public health

1:18:39They did support the initiative

1:18:41They were willing to work with us to develop guidelines other provinces have guidelines in place

1:18:46So they reached out to their provincial counterparts as well

1:18:50But yes, they are willing to work with us and didn't bring forward any concerns. Well good to hear that. Thank you

1:18:56Okay, councillor Klassen

1:19:01through you chair work to staff just had a question with regard to

1:19:06reusable foodware items. So rather than using

1:19:10What a restaurant provides to you

1:19:12I was curious about any research that might exist with regard to bringing your own food container from my

1:19:18understanding it's currently

1:19:20Not something that's necessarily

1:19:23approved by public health, but i'm just curious in a future phase or

1:19:28Further down the line if this is something

1:19:32That might be considered by municipalities across the country

1:19:38Uh through the chair

1:19:39Um, we did look at that and we are considering that um, you know for further research

1:19:44Um, wellington deffern wealth public health did state that there was no legislation

1:19:49Prohibiting us to require businesses to accept reusable cups and containers. Um, but at this point we're just starting with cups

1:19:56It's a pretty common practice with businesses. So we wanted to see how this was implemented amongst businesses before

1:20:02looking at other material types

1:20:07Great. Thank you. I would certainly also love to see in the future

1:20:10Uh reusable containers when you go and collect takeout food

1:20:14Um, I think you know that would certainly eliminate everyone has tons of reusable containers that they can use for this type of thing

1:20:21Thank you

1:20:23Thank you. Councillor Klassen margothry

1:20:26Thank you through you. I just want to follow up on my colleague councillor Klassen's question

1:20:30What's stopping council right now from adding a motion to do the reusable containers?

1:20:35Then you could do promotion and education

1:20:39about everything all at once

1:20:45so

1:20:46um

1:20:47I think they would require somewhere consultation in our end

1:20:50to look at implementing something like that, but

1:20:53theoretically there's nothing stopping council from directing staff

1:20:58So I think the thank you through you chair. I think the recommendation right now is that this would become um,

1:21:03implemented effective. I'm sorry march

1:21:05first

1:21:06Trying to remember 2025

1:21:09Could we could we look to implement the reusable container issue as well?

1:21:14And then through your engagement between now and march of 2025

1:21:19Use that opportunity to move ahead with it

1:21:22I just I saw a lot of heads nodding

1:21:25in agreement with councillor Klassen and

1:21:28like I I could

1:21:30To me it just makes more sense that we we go out once

1:21:34We do it once

1:21:36Get it done

1:21:37Through chair or to mayor guthrie. Yeah, that's something that staff could look into

1:21:41through 2024. Okay. Well, I will uh, right. I will write an amendment

1:21:48to this right now chair or to see what the

1:21:51What my colleagues think of it?

1:21:53um, if staff would like to send me an email directly if there's some kind of wording that would help you with that

1:21:58by all means let me know

1:22:02Or call someone someone's to call me there. Someone has a solution

1:22:06All right. Thank you very much. Okay. Any other questions?

1:22:13Um, so I just want to say I'm very excited that once again gulf is going to be leading on

1:22:19On a number of reduction of single-use items and so thank you for your hard work

1:22:25Mayor gathrey, do you want to do that now or do you want to do it at the end of the month?

1:22:30I'll just do it right now. Okay

1:22:32Okay, and if uh, you know folks are listening

1:22:36Um, and you have not tried the friendlier containers that are actually a gulf-based business. They are wonderful

1:22:43And they are uh, I know I've seen them at zair's before

1:22:47So those friendlier containers, you don't even have to clean them. You bring them back. You pop them in the box

1:22:51There's a qr code that tells you how many times to do that

1:22:53I also was low on spices and brought my reusable containers to bulk barn

1:22:57And I got three things of spices for what would ordinarily have cost me one for a new container

1:23:02So there's a real good economic argument and there's a very good environmental argument and there's a lot of hope on the horizon

1:23:07I I see, you know, the bread tags are changing

1:23:11We just bought

1:23:12Paper towels, I know and they were wrapped not in plastic but in a sheet of paper

1:23:17And so I think producer responsibility is changing things as producers are starting to see what they're going to have to recover

1:23:23I think municipalities are on the forefront and I think consumers are ready for it

1:23:27We have 10 seconds. That's okay

1:23:42While margothry is writing his motion

1:23:44I'm just wondering staff if you have any concerns regarding food containers because I understand initially with in terms of beverage containers

1:23:52There can be cross-contamination. There can be some different challenges that the council buildings alluded to from a public health perspective

1:23:59So will you be looking into that over the next couple of weeks?

1:24:04Yes, we can take a look at that as well. Okay, great

1:24:11Okay

1:24:18So if you're listening in or in the audience just bear with us for a moment

1:24:22Marigot three has a an additional motion and our rules require that motions be submitted or amendments to be submitted in writing

1:24:29And so the clerks will post that so we can see it. Yeah two are on the floor. You can add a third

1:25:06Okay

1:25:10Mayor Guthrie, would you like to read your motion and let us know if you have a seconder?

1:25:13Okay, mayor Guthrie's mo. Oh, councillor all does that a second

1:25:19All right

1:25:20And that staff be directed to also implement and include the use of reusable containers

1:25:25Within the by-law with the same effective date of the single use items phase two timeline of march first 2025

1:25:33We have a mover. We have a seconder

1:25:36This on the floor. Councillor Klassen. Do you have a question?

1:25:42So councillor Klassen had her hand up. No question. Okay, councillor Allt

1:25:49Councillor Allt, do you have a question?

1:25:51always

1:25:53Oh

1:25:58You are muted. Councillor Allt. There we go. Okay. That took a while. Thank you very much chair

1:26:07There's motion, but there's certainly a caveat as well that I think is important

1:26:13March is a very

1:26:15I think you need to respect

1:26:19With this and offer some

1:26:22On the other hand, I think in principle it is certainly more than worthwhile and think addresses our commitment broader environment

1:26:31Sorry, councillor Allt. The beginning of that statement was a little bit garbled

1:26:35I caught some respect the staff position and then they caught the end

1:26:38But perhaps you want to try it without the camera. It was a lot clearer

1:26:43We don't want to guess at what you said. Let's try it again. Can you hear? Thank you?

1:26:48Yes

1:26:50I want to support what mayor got to say because I think it provides for us

1:26:56a leadership role and mentorship for those that are believing that as much as anything else

1:27:03waste is as significant an element of environmental

1:27:08property as

1:27:11Water, I think this is good. I also wish that we as a council recognized that

1:27:17Staff might need to come back to us and state this timeline is too tight

1:27:22And we as a council will need therefore to to grant staff some leniency

1:27:27But we do recognize this is the way to go. It's the way the world should go

1:27:35Okay, councillor Allt. I just want to go to dco homes for a moment

1:27:40Thank you and to you madam chair. So um

1:27:44Just on this topic as you heard from staff. We did do some engagement in this area

1:27:50But we didn't go in depth with it and um, and it's not common practice

1:27:55So I just caution that we're we will take it away and take a look at some of the engagement that we've done

1:28:01So that we can advise you when we come back at the end of the month to see if if if this is palatable if it's if it's

1:28:08If it's doable so that you can take that into consideration before it gets approved

1:28:13Terrific, and I think that's when the committees work best, right? We have an idea. We can go away

1:28:18We have a bit of time to incorporate at the end of the month

1:28:21Okay, mayor Guthrie

1:28:22Yeah, just a comment then I just want to thank councillor Klassen for being the one that sort of uh bring it up and and uh

1:28:29And you know I kind of jumped jumped on it there

1:28:31But I just want to give give her credit for that and I just want to say that I did

1:28:35I agree with what with what our deputy ceo just said there

1:28:39Yeah, if something comes up just tell us before the end of the month we could tweak that if possible, but I

1:28:43I hope I hope everyone

1:28:45Does does vote for this though at least in principle at this point

1:28:49Um, it makes sense to me to to take another leadership position other than the one that you said that what guelph was already doing

1:28:55And if there's a possibility of us going out and doing education and stuff at the same time

1:28:59I think it just makes a lot of sense. So I appreciate uh staff's position to look into it a bit further and I hope we we get

1:29:07unanimous support. Thank you

1:29:09okay

1:29:13Through through you madam chair to the mover and perhaps the staff

1:29:15I just want to clarify the motion on the floor was framed as an additional motion

1:29:19But I think it is required to be an amendment to number two because number two is the approval of the by-law

1:29:24And I believe the by-law would require

1:29:27an amendment so

1:29:28Seem not in hence from staff to just to clarify this would be an amendment to number two staff would need to then

1:29:35Use our judgment to tweak number two to include the language outlined here in a motion that would come back to council at the end of the month

1:29:43Okay, so I'll call the vote on the amendment

1:29:46any opposed

1:29:49No one's opposed so that's unanimous

1:29:51And I will call the vote first. I just want to ask any comments before we call the vote on the two

1:29:56On the main motion councillor classon go ahead

1:30:00Yes, I just wanted to say thank you to marigath re for bringing um this forward as a motion

1:30:06Regarding the single use containers. I I thought about the idea for many many years

1:30:11Considering that I actually showed up at a few different restaurants and places with a single with a reusable container rather

1:30:18And I've been rejected in the past

1:30:21And I just think that it's something that makes a lot of sense

1:30:24And that we we should be able to bring in our own containers to get take out food

1:30:30It really reduces the cost to businesses

1:30:33And it reduces the waste that ends up in our landfills that we have to page a process

1:30:39Um, so thank you

1:30:42Thank you council class any other comments?

1:30:45Going once going twice. All right. I'm going to call the vote on

1:30:49Um, the two motions as amended anyone opposed

1:30:54Seeing none that's unanimous

1:30:57That I have no service area chair announcements. I'm wondering if there are any staff announcements for ide

1:31:03I see none. Um, I will call a five minute recess though while we change the chair and give folks

1:31:10Bio break so we're going to take five minute pause