Edmonton's single-use bag ban is working — but some restaurants want exemptions
Since the bylaw took effect in July 2023, disposable bags in residents' garbage have dropped 77%, exceeding the city's 2027 reduction target by 10 percentage points.
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Edmonton's single-use item reduction bylaw is working better than expected, but its success is creating tension with restaurants and some residents.
A waste characterization study examined 100-kilogram samples from garbage trucks across the city throughout the year and presented findings to the utility committee Monday morning. Since the bylaw was implemented in July 2023 — which banned plastic bags, foam plates, foam cups, and foam containers — disposable bags in the average Edmontonian's garbage have dropped 77 per cent.
The city set a goal to reduce single-use item consumption by 20 per cent per person by 2027. As of early 2026, the reduction has already reached 30 per cent.
"That's a huge result. We've seen an answer to whether this bylaw is working and that answer is yes," Ward O-day'min Councillor Anne Stevenson told reporters after the presentation. City staff consider the bylaw a success.
But the win is triggering pushback. Councillor Jon Morgan (Ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi) proposed exempting restaurants from bag and fee requirements for takeout and delivery orders. The current bylaw requires businesses to charge a minimum of 25 cents for a paper bag and $2 for a new reusable bag — and businesses keep the fees they collect.
Councillor Keren Tang (Ward Karhiio) said some Edmontonians told her they drive outside the city to buy fast food to avoid the fees, despite higher gas costs. "I personally have encountered going to drive-thrus where I'm not even asked for a fee or charged on my bill and businesses are handing [bags] out," Tang said at Monday's meeting.
A June 2026 survey of 196 restaurant owners showed divided views: many reported generating profit or recovering costs through bag fees, while others said fees didn't cover purchasing costs. Customers expressed frustration about the charges, according to survey respondents.
Inquiries to 311 about the bylaw dropped sharply over time — hundreds in July 2023 alone, but only 53 in all of 2026 — suggesting residents have adjusted. The utility committee referred the bylaw to city council for future discussion without making recommendations.
Will council vote to exempt restaurants, and if so, what will that mean for the overall reduction target?
What percentage of residents are actually leaving the city to avoid bag fees versus how many use this as a talking point?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
How much have disposable bags in Edmonton garbage decreased since the bylaw took effect?
Disposable bags in the average Edmontonian's garbage have dropped 77 per cent since the single-use item reduction bylaw was implemented in July 2023.
What was Edmonton's original reduction target for single-use items by 2027?
The city set a goal to reduce single-use item consumption by 20 per cent per person by 2027, but the reduction has already reached 30 per cent as of early 2026.
What are the current bag fees Edmonton businesses must charge?
Businesses in Edmonton must charge a minimum of 25 cents for a paper bag and $2 for a new reusable bag, and businesses keep the fees they collect.
How many restaurant owners were surveyed about the bag fee bylaw?
A June 2026 survey of 196 restaurant owners showed divided views, with some reporting profit or cost recovery through bag fees while others said fees didn't cover purchasing costs.
