The Calgary City Council has officially binned a bylaw requiring businesses to charge for paper bags and only hand out single-use items upon customer request. Only three councillors voted against repealing the city’s single-use bylaw: Courtney Walcott, Kourtney Penner and Gian-Carlo Carra.
The bylaw, which council approved in 2022, set a minimum fee of 15 cents for paper bags and $1 for reusable bags, and required businesses to only provide single-use utensils, cutlery, napkins and condiments by customer request.
The new rules faced significant public pushback when implemented earlier this year, which prompted city council to begin the process to repeal process just two weeks later.
The decision to repeal the bylaw follows a period of public consultation, in which Calgarians expressed their concerns about the additional costs associated with the bylaw and its potential impact on small businesses. The city council ultimately decided that the bylaw was not achieving its intended goals and that it was creating an unnecessary burden on businesses and consumers.
The repeal of the bylaw is a victory for those who opposed the additional fees and restrictions. It is also a reminder that city council is listening to the concerns of Calgarians and is willing to make changes when necessary.
