Jason Unrau
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Oct 28/05) - After years of consultation and planning, the Territories-wide recycling program is set to get underway Nov. 1. NWT residents will finally be able to get cash back for their empty beverage containers.

However, consumers will also notice a rise in the price of their drinks at the checkout. The cost of purchasing, for example, 12 cans of pop, will increase by $1.80. Of that 15 cent per can increase, 10 cents will be levied as a refundable deposit and five cents will go towards a handling fee.

Two weeks ago Northern Store, Co-op and bottlers of Coca-Cola and Pepsi products took out full page advertisements warning customers of the price increases to come and alleging that the deposit rates did not have to be so expensive.

As well, the ads claimed the program would not give fair access to recycling depots for all NWT consumers.

"I'm not going to respond to each point, that's (the corporations') perspective. The government's perspective is that the program has been designed in consultation with residents," said Emery Paquin, director of Environmental Protection for Environment and Natural Resources. "It's fair and effective and will be implemented Nov. 1."

Asked if there would be depots in all communities, Paquin said that is a possibility.

"The intention is to have depots in as many communities as there are interested operators," he said. "If standards can be met, we will license the depot."

However, only six of NWT's 33 communities will have depots by Nov. 1.

They are Inuvik, Hay River, Yellowknife, Rae-Edzo, Fort Simpson and Fort Smith.

Paquin said two other communities have made applications to start depots, as well.

Unfortunately for Beaufort-Delta consumers in places like Aklavik, Fort McPherson and Tsiighetchic, they will either have to swallow the deposit fee or save their containers until they can bring them to Inuvik for a refund.

Over at Wrangling River Supply Company, the site of Inuvik's bottle deposit and processing facility, proprietors Judy and Lionel Harder are busy preparing for opening day.

"I think it will be a bit confusing at first, especially for retailers," said Judy. "It's my hope that not everybody is going to come the first day with what they've been saving up. I've had people call and say they have a full sea can full (of bottles)."

The Harders ask that anybody with more than a 'walk-in' amount call ahead to arrange a specific time so they can be prepared.

"We want this to work so we don't want people's first experience to be a negative thing, waiting in line," she said.

As for where the recyclables will be sent, Harder says that beer bottles will continue to go to Alberta, while other items will be stored until the depot has a shippable amount and there is a place ready to receive the items.

Items that will be charged a 10 cent deposit fee (refundable) plus five cent handling fee (non-refundable) are: drink pouches, juice boxes, soft drink and beer cans, juice, water, soft drink and beer bottles as well as juice jugs, cans and cartons. Basically all beverage containers except milk.