Choose a reusable container for your next meal in Ottawa
Our containers are free to borrow as long as they are returned within 14 days!
You can borrow our reusable containers for up to 14 days, completely free. After that, you will be charged $10 for each unreturned container. Return your container after 14 days? No problem, the charge will be reversed!
Winners will be contacted through email or phone. For full contest rules visit the contest rules page.
To start, you will be able to find reusable containers and return bins at the following locations:
You can choose to borrow a reusable container at participating restaurants and grocery stores.
Please remember to return your container within 14 days!
No, borrowing a container is free of charge. You can borrow our reusable containers for up to 14 days, completely free. After 14 days, you will be charged a refundable amount of $10 until the container is returned.
Each container is marked with a unique QR code. This QR code is scanned and helps us keep track of everything – from when it’s borrowed and returned, and how many time each container has been used and the single-use plastic waste saved!
Yes, as long as they are returned with 14 days.
No, the container must be returned to the store or to any other participating location to be properly sanitized before being reused again. Don’t worry, each participating location will have another container for you to borrow.
You can borrow our reusable containers for up to 14 days, completely free. After 14 days, you will be charged a refundable amount of $10 until the container is returned.
By returning the containers, you ensure that the containers are circulating efficiently and can be reused again and again. Each container has the power to eliminate thousands of single-use plastics, but they can only be put to work if they are returned!
Return the empty container to be a Reuse Ottawa return bin at any participating location within a 14-day period at any participating location.
No, but please empty any leftover food before turning the container to facilitate the sanitization process.
You will be charged a temporary refundable amount of $10 until the container is returned. If you have three or more unreturned containers you won’t be able to borrow any more containers until they are returned.
Reuse Ottawa’s sanitization partner, Gate Gourmet, follows strict cleaning and sanitization protocols to ensure that all containers are thoroughly cleaned before being redistributed to participating locations.
Choosing reusable options is the best way to eliminate unnecessary single-use packaging waste that ends up in landfills or pollutes our environment
Participating locations are provided a suite of reusable containers they can use for various food items. They will be able to offer these containers to their customers at no cost and will have access to promotional material, container tracking, washing, and distribution services provided as part of the pilot.
You can contact us at [email protected] to let us know which restaurant you’d like to see participate in Reuse Ottawa. We also have a contact form on reuseottawa.ca if they want to reach us directly.
This pilot is a unique collaboration effort between Circular Innovation Council, and environmental not-for-profit organization, and major Canadian grocery retailers – Metro, Sobeys, Farm Boy, and Walmart Canada – with the support of Environment and Climate Change Canada and the City of Ottawa.
© 2025 Reuse Ottawa and Circular Innovation Council. All rights reserved.
