Help us shape our single-use items waste reduction strategy!

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Consultation has concluded. We thank everyone for their input!

Update: November 26, 2019

At the November 25, 2019 Council meeting, Council approved a Single-use Items Reduction Strategy.

The approaches and recommendations outlined in the Single-Use Items Reduction Strategy were determined through a combination of public engagement, stakeholder consultation, and best practice review.

The Strategy outlines the following recommendations:

  • Development of a bylaw to ban the distribution of retail plastic bags, plastic straws, and polystyrene takeout containers and cups by fall of 2020. The ban will have an implementation period of one to one a half years (2020-2021) and will be in full effect by January 2022.
  • Exploring future reduction and management of disposable cups, utensils and take-out containers
  • Championing for the introduction of an Extended Producer Responsibility program in partnership with other municipalities across Alberta
  • Exploring the possibility of offering a commercial organics collection program to help capture compostable single-use items and food waste
  • Continuing to educate and inform residents on responsible purchasing habits to reduce the amount of waste produced from the home
  • Leading by example, the City for all City run events (external and internal) should work to be leaders in waste reduction, specifically limiting the use of single-use items

Leading the Way!

Municipalities across Alberta are joining others across Canada and the globe to reduce the amount of single-use items in their waste and recycling streams. Spruce Grove is at the forefront of this initiative in Alberta. Let’s work together to be a leader!



Update: November 26, 2019

At the November 25, 2019 Council meeting, Council approved a Single-use Items Reduction Strategy.

The approaches and recommendations outlined in the Single-Use Items Reduction Strategy were determined through a combination of public engagement, stakeholder consultation, and best practice review.

The Strategy outlines the following recommendations:

  • Development of a bylaw to ban the distribution of retail plastic bags, plastic straws, and polystyrene takeout containers and cups by fall of 2020. The ban will have an implementation period of one to one a half years (2020-2021) and will be in full effect by January 2022.
  • Exploring future reduction and management of disposable cups, utensils and take-out containers
  • Championing for the introduction of an Extended Producer Responsibility program in partnership with other municipalities across Alberta
  • Exploring the possibility of offering a commercial organics collection program to help capture compostable single-use items and food waste
  • Continuing to educate and inform residents on responsible purchasing habits to reduce the amount of waste produced from the home
  • Leading by example, the City for all City run events (external and internal) should work to be leaders in waste reduction, specifically limiting the use of single-use items

Leading the Way!

Municipalities across Alberta are joining others across Canada and the globe to reduce the amount of single-use items in their waste and recycling streams. Spruce Grove is at the forefront of this initiative in Alberta. Let’s work together to be a leader!



Consultation has concluded. We thank everyone for their input!

Do you have a question about single-use items and why it is important to reduce them from our waste stream? Ask us and our Green Team will be happy to respond!

  • Share Seems hypocritical to ban plastic bags while using a blue bag (made from plastic) program for our recyclables don't you think? on Facebook Share Seems hypocritical to ban plastic bags while using a blue bag (made from plastic) program for our recyclables don't you think? on Twitter Share Seems hypocritical to ban plastic bags while using a blue bag (made from plastic) program for our recyclables don't you think? on Linkedin Email Seems hypocritical to ban plastic bags while using a blue bag (made from plastic) program for our recyclables don't you think? link

    Seems hypocritical to ban plastic bags while using a blue bag (made from plastic) program for our recyclables don't you think?

    dano67 asked over 4 years ago

    At this time the single-use items reduction strategy is specifically focusing on retail plastic bags, plastic straws and Styrofoam serving trays and cups.  Having said that, the strategy has the potential to expand to other items over time. The City’s initial research on blue bags for the recycling program shows that it is still more beneficial and the environment when they are used vs bins. The transparent bags allow the contents to be easily inspected to prevent contamination to the recycling stream. Although the blue plastic bags have difficult markets right now, the benefit of using them for recylcing collection far outweighs not using them.

  • Share Why is land fill still being done when incineration is by far a better way of waste disposal? Singapore has a fantastic incineration system with no emissions, heat and power generated is used and next to zero waste left over. The entire waste generated by them is disposed in a little more than a day. I think the video is on u tube but I can provide a link should anyone wish to learn of a near perfect waste disposal method. I have never supported land fill and, as a senior having grown up in a remote area, we incinerated everything and glass was returned for reuse or repurposed at home. We did not have many things of plastic then, but in Singapore they seemed to have solved the problem of emissions from all burnt items. on Facebook Share Why is land fill still being done when incineration is by far a better way of waste disposal? Singapore has a fantastic incineration system with no emissions, heat and power generated is used and next to zero waste left over. The entire waste generated by them is disposed in a little more than a day. I think the video is on u tube but I can provide a link should anyone wish to learn of a near perfect waste disposal method. I have never supported land fill and, as a senior having grown up in a remote area, we incinerated everything and glass was returned for reuse or repurposed at home. We did not have many things of plastic then, but in Singapore they seemed to have solved the problem of emissions from all burnt items. on Twitter Share Why is land fill still being done when incineration is by far a better way of waste disposal? Singapore has a fantastic incineration system with no emissions, heat and power generated is used and next to zero waste left over. The entire waste generated by them is disposed in a little more than a day. I think the video is on u tube but I can provide a link should anyone wish to learn of a near perfect waste disposal method. I have never supported land fill and, as a senior having grown up in a remote area, we incinerated everything and glass was returned for reuse or repurposed at home. We did not have many things of plastic then, but in Singapore they seemed to have solved the problem of emissions from all burnt items. on Linkedin Email Why is land fill still being done when incineration is by far a better way of waste disposal? Singapore has a fantastic incineration system with no emissions, heat and power generated is used and next to zero waste left over. The entire waste generated by them is disposed in a little more than a day. I think the video is on u tube but I can provide a link should anyone wish to learn of a near perfect waste disposal method. I have never supported land fill and, as a senior having grown up in a remote area, we incinerated everything and glass was returned for reuse or repurposed at home. We did not have many things of plastic then, but in Singapore they seemed to have solved the problem of emissions from all burnt items. link

    Why is land fill still being done when incineration is by far a better way of waste disposal? Singapore has a fantastic incineration system with no emissions, heat and power generated is used and next to zero waste left over. The entire waste generated by them is disposed in a little more than a day. I think the video is on u tube but I can provide a link should anyone wish to learn of a near perfect waste disposal method. I have never supported land fill and, as a senior having grown up in a remote area, we incinerated everything and glass was returned for reuse or repurposed at home. We did not have many things of plastic then, but in Singapore they seemed to have solved the problem of emissions from all burnt items.

    Jermats asked over 4 years ago

    Thank you for your note! We are aware that many regions globally are moving towards waste to energy as a means of waste management. There are businesses in the Edmonton region that are exploring this technology and the City is paying close attention to their progress. If waste to energy becomes a viable option in the region the City will look into further at that time.

  • Share Will plastic used in packaging goods be restricted/banned? Plastics such as clamshell containers used for strawberries, grapes, etc on Facebook Share Will plastic used in packaging goods be restricted/banned? Plastics such as clamshell containers used for strawberries, grapes, etc on Twitter Share Will plastic used in packaging goods be restricted/banned? Plastics such as clamshell containers used for strawberries, grapes, etc on Linkedin Email Will plastic used in packaging goods be restricted/banned? Plastics such as clamshell containers used for strawberries, grapes, etc link

    Will plastic used in packaging goods be restricted/banned? Plastics such as clamshell containers used for strawberries, grapes, etc

    Melanierawluk asked over 4 years ago

    Thank you for your question! At this time the single-use items waste reduction strategy is specifically focusing on retail plastic bags, plastic straws and Styrofoam serving trays and cups.  Having said that, the strategy has the potential to expand to other items over time.  The use of plastic clamshell containers has definitely become an issue more recently with the changes to the global recycling markets.  The City is currently working with several other municipalities in Alberta and has written two letters to the Government of Alberta to encourage the implementation of an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program.  EPR encourages the producers of these plastic and paper packaging products to properly manage their disposal.  This ideally will result in producers manufacturing better quality products or coming up with a more reliable means of recycling.  We encourage you to talk to your local MLA and your grocery store chain on these issues.  For more information on EPR visit: https://recycle.ab.ca/about/public-policy/

  • Share Will the City of Spruce Grove be reducing plastic blue bags by implementing Blue Bin pickup? on Facebook Share Will the City of Spruce Grove be reducing plastic blue bags by implementing Blue Bin pickup? on Twitter Share Will the City of Spruce Grove be reducing plastic blue bags by implementing Blue Bin pickup? on Linkedin Email Will the City of Spruce Grove be reducing plastic blue bags by implementing Blue Bin pickup? link

    Will the City of Spruce Grove be reducing plastic blue bags by implementing Blue Bin pickup?

    Hele asked almost 5 years ago

    Thank you for your question! At this time the single-use items reduction strategy is specifically focusing on retail plastic bags, plastic straws and Styrofoam serving trays and cups.  Having said that, the strategy has the potential to expand to other items over time. The City’s initial research on blue bags vs. blue bin shows that it is still more beneficial to the recycling program and the environment when transparent bags are used for recycling. The transparent bags allow the contents to be easily inspected to prevent contamination to the recycling stream. If you haven’t already, we hope that you will take the time to fill out the survey so your input can be gathered and measured.