RANKIN INLET - Shoppers at the Northern store are paying a little extra at the checkout if they insist on having their items packed in plastic bags.

The store began charging 25 cents per plastic bag on Jan. 17.

The Northern is promoting use of its recyclable bag in an effort to decrease the amount of plastic bags going into local landfill sites.

North West Co. executive vice-president Michael McMullin said his company partnered with the NWT government on a similar program more than a year ago.

"We, basically, said to the NWT government if you're going to legislate this, let's do it the best way possible for the customer and the community," said McMullin.

"We gave two free recyclable bags to every household in the NWT, but the government gets the 25 cents.

"We then decided to get proactive in Nunavut to start eliminating plastic bags and every penny of the bag charge will go back to the communities. We envision having the funds go towards something like a community care day, where we engage the schools in cleaning up the community once in the spring and fall."

McMullin said he's not bothered when he hears the bags will be used for things other than grocery shopping.

He said if kids are taking their books to school in the bags, or hunters are taking things in them on the land, that's even fewer plastic bags discarded into the environment.

"We saw a 77 per cent bag reduction in the NWT without a single complaint. Maybe that's because it was government legislated but, whatever the reason, the program worked.

"This isn't meant to penalize people on lower incomes, and we'll ensure our food bank contributions match or exceed what we collect on the bags. We hope to reach the point where we don't collect a dime on plastic bags because everyone is using the recyclable ones."

The recyclable bags are made of polypropylene and verified for quality at least three times before shipping.

Upon arrival they're further tested to ensure compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

McMullin said the company will monitor the program and if it isn't seeing a significant reduction in plastic bag use, it will hold another recyclable bag giveaway.

"We are aware of the possibility of the reusable bags being a germ carrier but from what we understand, the proven incident rate is very low. The material we use in our bags is not supposed to be a carrier because it's not an environment microbes or viruses could survive in. I can't say conclusively there is no risk, but the rate is low and we will continue to address that issue.

"The industry is looking into this to make sure the recyclable bags aren't going to cause future problems for people, but it's a valid concern and we have to be diligent in dealing with it."

Rankin Inlet economic development officer Damian MacInnis isn't impressed with the new bags.

He said the 25-cent charge on plastic bags is going to harm people on low income.

"We have a high rate of low-income families for a community this size, and they can least afford to pay 25 cents for plastic bags or 99 cents for the recyclable bags when they need more," said MacInnis.

"A couple of bucks may not seem like a lot to a person with a full-time job, but it adds up quickly for people just getting by - or not getting by for that matter.

"There are people in Rankin who are just putting food on the table and that money adds up over a year. I'd rather people be able to put food on the table than worry about a plastic bag floating around town."

MacInnis said he's also concerned about sanitary issues with the bags.

He said he's not convinced they're not a health threat.

"You buy meat at the store and there's going to be blood run into your cloth bag. Then you run home and use detergent to keep washing your bag out, which is even more cost to you. Someone could use the bag for something else, you don't notice and off to the store you go to put your food in it.

"They charge five cents a bag in the south, but 25 cents will hurt families here.

MacInnis said whether something has to be done to reduce the number of plastic bags going into Nunavut dumps is a government decision.

He said these types of initiatives shouldn't be put into force by a separate entity.

"This shouldn't be Northern's decision to make. Right now, this isn't in the best interests of everyone in our community, especially those on low income. The Northern store may feel it's the right thing to do, but, in my personal opinion, it's far from it."

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