2024 Brings New Rules for Single-Use Items Reduction Bylaw

Phase two of Banff’s Single-Use Item Reduction Bylaw began on January 1, 2024. This bylaw targets items that can easily be avoided or replaced with reusable options to help reduce waste and to highlight the need for waste-reduction practices in the park.

How will phase two of this bylaw impact your business?

In Banff, new plastic shopping bags are banned:

• Businesses and event organizers must not provide new plastic shopping bags to customers and must allow customers to use their own bags for shopping.
• Businesses may provide paper or reusable bags, if requested, and businesses must charge a minimum fee of $0.25 for paper bags, or $2.00 for reusable bags. These fees should be listed separately on the customer’s receipt.

In Banff, businesses are required to provide reusable food ware for dine-in services:

• Businesses such as restaurants, cafes, and bars must provide reusable food ware for any food or beverage consumed on the premises. This includes plates, bowls, cups, cutlery, and other accessory items.
• Businesses must ask and may rely on the customer’s stated intention as to whether they are dining in or not.
• All new food and beverage businesses in Banff must provide a minimum of 10 seats, on-site dishwashing facilities, and reusable food ware to be licensed to operate in Banff.
• Any existing businesses that cannot accommodate on-site or off-site dishwashing facilities due to space, financial or other circumstances, can apply for an exemption here.

For more details about this bylaw, see here.

If you have questions about implementing the above requirements for your food and beverage business, please email zerowaste@banff.ca