Reuse Ottawa: Pioneering a greener future with reusable packaging

[guest]

A new initiative by Circular Innovation Council is bringing reusable containers to the food service industry, making it easier than ever to shop with the planet in mind.

Circular Innovation Council is a national not-for-profit organization with over 40 years of experience. They are leading the charge towards a sustainable future with the launch of Reuse Ottawa. This first-of-its-kind collaborative reuse program aims to revolutionize the food service industry by addressing the significant environmental burden created by single-use packaging.

Reuse Ottawa is a joint effort involving major Canadian grocers such as Metro, Farm Boy, Sobeys, and Walmart Canada, in collaboration with the City of Ottawa and the Government of Canada.

Pilot launch in Ottawa

The program recently launched in areas along Bank Street and extends up to the Byward Market. Consumers in this pilot area can now purchase selected food products in reusable containers at participating grocery retailers and other food service locations. These containers are provided at no cost, and consumers can return them through various convenient options, including neighborhood drop-off locations.

With the new three-item garbage limit, the Reuse Ottawa initiative helps to reduce waste and stay within the limit—making sustainability simpler and smarter.

How it works

Borrowing a container is simple. Consumers can either provide their phone number or show the Reusables.com app at the cash register at participating locations. If the container is not returned within 14 days, a $10 charge is applied, which is reversed upon the container's return. Return locations can be easily found on the Reusables app and the Reuse Ottawa website.

Every week, the returned containers are professionally sanitized at Gate Gourmet, a company located by the Ottawa International Airport that handles food and sanitization needs for airlines. The clean containers are then redistributed to participating locations, ready to continue their reuse cycle.

The initiative is built on a shared-pool model, an approach that allows participating food service businesses in a defined area to share reusable containers. This model is inclusive, welcoming any interested grocer, restaurant, or food service business to join the program.

Get Involved

To encourage participation, customers who return containers are entered into a monthly draw for a chance to win a $50 gift card to a Reuse Ottawa participating retailer.

For more information or to get involved, visit the Reuse Ottawa website or email info@reuseottawa.ca. Together, we can make a significant impact on reducing single-use plastics and fostering a circular economy.

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.

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