Business Waste
Single-Use Plastics Business Recognition
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Food establishments such as a restaurants or coffee shops that receive waste collection services through the City of Hamilton, could be eligible for the City’s We Reduce Single-Use business recognition program. The recognition program will certify and recognize food establishments that fully participate in the City’s green bin and recycling diversion programs, and who already reduced, or are planning to reduce, disposable, single-use, and takeaway items.
Single-use Plastic or Takeaway Items
Food-related single-use plastic and takeaway items are generally disposed of after one use, such as plastic cutlery, fast food & take-out containers, and plastic bags. Thousands of these items are used across the City every day, and most cannot be recycled or composted and end up as litter, and eventually in the landfill.
Benefits of being a ‘We Reduce Single-Use’ certified business
Reducing Environmental Impact
Reducing the number of single-use plastic and takeaway items generated in Hamilton and properly using diversion programs such as the green bin, helps extend the life of our landfill, reduces costs to the City and minimizes pollution and litter, helping keep Hamilton clean and green.
Recognition from the City
All food establishments certified in Hamilton’s ‘We Reduce Single-Use’ program will be recognized and profiled by the City on public forums such as the website and social media channels. You will also receive a window decal to display for customers. This extra publicity may drive more environmentally conscious customers to your business.
Ensure you’re sorting your waste correctly by visiting Hamilton.ca/waste and use the item search tool to confirm where an item should go. You can help keep food-related single-use plastics and takeaway items out of the landfill by having your business switch to products that are reusable or recoverable.
Beverage Cups
Take-out Containers & Serviceware
Cutlery, Straws & Condiments
Compostable vs. Non-compostable
But it says it’s compostable
Not all products labeled as compostable or biodegradable, like cutlery, take-out packaging and coffee pods, are accepted in municipal green bin programs. If you do not have City of Hamilton green bin collection, please confirm with your service-provider if the material is accepted in their green bin program.
Why are they not accepted in Hamilton’s green bin program?
Hamilton’s composting facility is designed to process food waste into compost and certain types of compostable labelled products do not break down fully and end up going to landfill. These include items containing Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS), which is a coating used on compostable labelled products to resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water.
For a list of acceptable compostable products, visit hamilton.ca/greenbin. Visit hamilton.ca/businesswaste for more information on business waste collection and proper sorting.
Application
We Reduce Single-Use
City staff will review submitted applications and follow up with the business to conduct an initial inspection. Once approved and certified, a window decal will be awarded to the business. To maintain the ‘We Reduce Single-Use’ certification, audits will be conducted regularly.
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