HELP MAKE THE WORLD CUP IN TORONTO ZERO-WASTE

Join the #ReuseForTheWin Movement 

FIFA World Cup 26™ is coming to Toronto. The tournament brings with it an opportunity to set a global standard for sports sustainability — or to leave behind mountains of trash. Millions of fans will be filling stadiums and surrounding festivals, leaving millions of single-use food and beverage containers. In Canada, half of all plastic waste is single-use, like those served to soccer fans. More than 90% of plastic waste goes to landfill, is incinerated or ends up polluting the environment like lakes, rivers, and oceans. Oceana Canada needs your help to tell the City of Toronto to eliminate single-use waste and switch to reuse before the World Cup kicks off. With reuse, items are collected, cleaned, re-stocked, and reused for the next game, creating a zero-waste standard in global sport.  

Make Reuse the Standard in Toronto 

The opportunity to save our lakes, rivers, and oceans from a big source of trash is here and with your help we can make it happen. By signing, you will join the #ReuseForTheWin campaign and show the City of Toronto that local citizens don’t want unnecessary single-use waste in their city. 

The City of Toronto is expanding its Single-Use and Takeaway Items Reduction Strategy – with strong action and support from people like you, Toronto could embrace reuse and stamp out single-use. Making the World Cup experience waste-free and a global example of sustainability in sport.  

We need your support to bring reusables to the Toronto FIFA World Cup 26™. This isn’t just about protecting the oceans. It’s about building a cleaner, healthier future for our communities. Tell Mayor Chow and the City of Toronto to support reuse.

PETITION LETTER

Dear Mayor Olivia Chow and City of Toronto,

I am concerned about the amount of single-use waste generated in our city and I urge you to take action. A significant amount of unnecessary single-use waste comes from our restaurants, bars, cafes, theatres, stadiums, arenas, and major events. With the FIFA World Cup 26™ coming to Toronto, now is the perfect opportunity to put an end to avoidable single-use waste. The world is going to be watching what sets World Cup host cities apart, and I want Toronto’s legacy to include sustainability. 

I am urging you to: 

• Require refillable and reusable containers for on-site food and beverage service at venues such as restaurants, cafés, bars, theatres, stadiums, arenas that seat over 12 individuals, as well as large annual festivals like the Canadian National Exhibition, Grand Prix of Toronto, and Pride Toronto.

• Require free and easy access to water refill stations across our city on both private and public property, with emphasis on our stadiums, arenas, and festivals.

• Begin the rollout of these requirements in advance of FIFA World Cup 26™.

A wide reuse requirement bylaw integrating these three key components is the most effective way to support Phase 3 of Toronto’s Single-Use and Takeaway Items Reduction Strategy. Over half of Canada’s plastic waste comes from single-use packaging, and only 8% is actually recycled across the country. Over 70% of Ontario’s Blue Box program goes to landfill and incineration. Toronto can avoid a lot of single-use waste through embracing a reuse and refill system. These systems use reusable foodware — like cups, plates, bowls, and cutlery — which are collected after use, washed and sanitized, then re-stocked to be used again. Reuse can be done on-site in kitchens or behind bars; it can also be serviced by one of the many growing reuse companies based right here in Toronto. Reuse can be as easy as allowing citizens to bring empty refillable water bottles to events, and ensuring facilities provide water fountains. Toronto would not be alone in passing a reuse bylaw. Municipalities like Victoria, British Columbia, as well as Banff and Edmonton, Alberta, have already passed reuse bylaws and are seeing the benefits for businesses, citizens, and the environment.  

With your support, Toronto can embrace reuse and sustainability while meeting the needs of events like the FIFA World Cup 26™. Reuse is a win for all. It supports and grows local businesses, decreases costs and dependencies on single-use products, reduces costly waste generation managed by the City, eliminates the need to ship waste to landfill or for recycling, and protects our environment. 

With decisive action you can position Toronto, one of Canada’s World Cup host cities, as a global leader in reuse and set a new standard for zero-waste sporting events.

This is our chance to prove that major events can be single-use waste free, while still delivering an unforgettable fan experience. Please implement reuse systems in Toronto ahead of the World Cup.