Reducing Single-Use Items in Banff: the Town of Banff Strategy

In the Town of Banff, located within a national park, waste managment is an important responsibility. Among the culprits contributing to waste here are single-use items—coffee cups, plastic forks, grocery bags, and more. Things that are used once and thrown away. Things that are convenient but are also a source of waste. In response, in 2023 the Town of Banff introduced a “Single-Use Items Reduction Strategy” to tackle this issue.

Understanding the issue of waste in Banff

Like many other places, the hard truth is that most single-use items in Banff end up in landfill, says Carla Bitz, Environmental Coordinator at the Town of Banff. While some items may be composted or recycled, the confusion of materials, and the lack of awareness often leads to contamination in recycling bins.

The town’s location within a national park adds a unique layer of responsibility, emphasizing the need for higher standards in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and waste creation, Carla explains.

Studies from 2018 and 2023 in Banff found that single-use items were problematic for several reasons. They’re found in large quantities in pedestrian waste bins, the town’s resources are expended to sort disposable items, and almost all of these items are destined for the landfill. These findings laid the groundwork for a strategic approach to single-use items in the Town of Banff.

The Town of Banff has set an ambitious goal; to eliminate waste from landfill by 2050. The Single-Use Reduction Strategy is one piece of the puzzle that will help to achieve this goal, and the town is working towards measurable milestones.

One major target is the reduction of single-use items by 2028. As part of this effort, the town is looking to shift the culture towards a more sustainable model of consumption where businesses, the community, and visitors all have a key role to play.

Banff's approach to reducing single-use items

Instead of focusing solely on banning one material, like plastic, the Town of Banff has created a bylaw that requires reusable alternatives. This ensures that businesses replace single-use items with more sustainable options, addressing the issue that even compostable or recyclable products often end up being discarded. The disposal process consumes more energy and generates greenhouse gases, highlighting the importance of prioritizing reusable solutions.

Plastic bags have also been banned in the Town of Banff, and there are minimal fees on paper and reusable bags to ensure that they do not flood the system either, says Carla. The Town also requires reusable items for on-site dining to avoid creating waste from compostable or paper products.

“We want to ensure that we’re not simply shifting the waste problem from one material to another. We need to focus on reusables and behavioural change to reduce consumption overall,” she adds.

Banff businesses support 2050 goal

Carla says there has been some significant progress and businesses in the town are stepping up! The Town of Banff’s Zero Waste Banff Program has been empowering businesses to help reach the 2050 goal through education, communication, policy and program support.

Wild Flour and Little Wild Café’s are examples of cafes that lead the way by prioritizing environmentally responsible ingredient sourcing and packaging. The Hotel Canoe & Suites has implemented an innovative zero-waste coffee system, showing that even luxury accommodations can balance comfort with environmental stewardship. 13 businesses are participating in "Banff Borrows" a reusable cup program and additionally, McDonald’s Banff is one of the first McDonald’s in Canada to offer reusables! The second location is in Terrebonne, Quebec.

Shaping a culture of reusables

Despite these positive steps, there are still challenges, says Carla. Convenience plays a major factor, as single-use items are often the “easier” option, but fostering a culture of “bring your own” can help. Businesses can encourage this by offering incentives and discounts to customers. There are many businesses in the town already doing this!

The Single-Use Items Reduction Strategy is very small step in sustainable tourism, says Carla. “While it's worth celebrating, we have a long way to go to ensure the park's ecological integrity remains, and that we do everything we can to fight climate change.”

We asked Carla, “What does Lead Tourism for Good” mean to you?

“To me, Lead Tourism for Good means having a "no net negative" impact on our national park community, which may result in having to make sacrifices for some common comforts or do things a little differently. Ultimately, most visitors to Banff National Park want to be a part of something positive. I’d encourage Banff businesses to take risks and give them every opportunity to do so. But it is up to us to set the tone for the social norm we want to create here, and we still have a lot to do for that to become a reality.”