Tim Hortons Responds

Thank you for your recent email regarding your concern for the litter caused by Tim Hortons packaging within your community.

Tim Hortons strongly believes we all have a responsibility to protect the environment and that we have an opportunity to take a leadership role in our industry. That being said, I am pleased to share with you our, Sustainability and Responsibility (Making a True DifferenceTM) framework (attached). (note to please attach the SR Summary which can be found on our website, pdf format to the bottom of the email or with the letter). This document is a summary of some of the exciting things that we as a company, are working on.

The three pillars of framework include: Individuals, Communities and The Planet. Our commitment and goals related to our waste diversion and recycling efforts are summarized under Environmental Stewardship. In addition to this information, some more specific programs we have run to help reduce the amount of litter caused by our packaging include:

• Anti-litter messages on all of our packaging items, including a "Do Not Litter" message on all of our take-out cups and on our drive thru exit signs at the majority of our restaurants. • Community Clean-ups: Each year our Restaurant Owners sponsor community clean-ups. Last year we sponsored over 135 of these events across Canada. This number continues to grow each year. • We are working hard to expand our recycling programs to all of our stores, whenever possible. • As an incentive to use a travel mug we offer a 10 cent discount on all travel mug refills. • We sponsor many other educational and awareness programs about litter such as our Earn a Bike Program. This program encourages youth to volunteer to clean up their neighborhoods through community service in order to earn a bicycle. You can read more about this on our website at timhortons.com under the local programs section.

We will continue to work hard and strive to make a true difference.

Sincerely, The TDL Group Corp.,

My response:

You'll agree, however, your solutions have largely failed to keep our streets, parks, beaches, and public transit system reasonably free of takeout cups. I literally see 2-3 cups every block on my way to work. That's simply disgusting. You'll also notice said locations are utterly free of any container with a deposit. Simply put, deposit programs that exist in Ontario and expanded programs in other countries work to keep public places free of such trash. I think it is high time takeout coffee chains accept and prepare for a deposit program. Tim Hortons can lead from the front or face the inevitable PR nightmare when Joe Citizen decides enough is enough.