Edmonton City Council Keeps 25-Cent Paper Bag Fee

Edmonton residents will continue to pay a 25-cent fee for paper bags when ordering through drive-thrus or shopping at stores.

City council narrowly voted Tuesday afternoon to reject a motion that would have eliminated the paper bag fee. The decision followed discussions on the city’s Single-Use Item Bylaw, introduced in 2023.

According to an administrative report, single-use waste has declined by 30 per cent since the bylaw came into effect, with retail bags accounting for the largest share of the reduction.

The motion to remove the fee was defeated in a 7-6 vote, meaning the 25-cent charge will remain in place.

Councillor Mike Elliott, who supported removing the fee, argued that it unfairly affects seniors, people on fixed incomes and those who frequently purchase fast food.

Councillors Ashley Salvador and Aaron Paquette, however, said the small fee encourages people to think about their environmental impact and helps reduce waste.

The report also found that paper bag waste has fallen by 10 per cent, despite a shift from plastic to paper bags.