According to Calgary’s new bylaw, a single-use item is something “designed to be used only once before being thrown away.” How fitting, then, that the bylaw itself might soon meet that definition.

Barely a week after coming into force, we learned that a group of city councillors was manoeuvring to repeal or significantly alter the single-use items bylaw. This will surely come as encouraging news to the Calgarians who are understandably frustrated with these new regulations and requirements. If only such common sense had reared its head much sooner, we could have avoided this mess altogether.

The bylaw, which came into effect Jan. 16, is ostensibly to reduce waste from these single-use items. There’s a mandated onus shift, forcing customers to request such items as napkins, cutlery, or condiments. The bigger source of controversy, though, is the mandated bag fees. Businesses must charge $0.15 for a paper bag or $1 for a reusable cloth bag. As of next year, those fees will rise to $0.25 and $2........

© Calgary Herald