Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 28/05) - The territorial government will launch an NWT-wide recycling program next week amid questions about its ability to handle the far-reaching project.

With a recycling tax on drink containers scheduled to start Nov. 1, Environment minister Michael Miltenberger said each resident will be able to deposit their empties for a partial refund.

The government will take on that role in the nearly two-dozen communities without private recyclers. Several MLAs complained the tax was unfair to communities without recycling programs.

"We will be in the recycling business," Miltenberger said last week in the legislative assembly.

The move raised the eyebrows of some MLAs who wondered whether the government has the resources to collect the containers in remote areas.

"I am certainly in favour of any legislation that is green," said Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche. "In this case it just doesn't appear to work. We can do it... just not today."

While others welcomed the move, some were sceptical the system would be up and running when the tax - which will placed on distributors - comes into effect next week.

"They must be working some magic over there," said Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya, whose riding contains five settlement without all-season road access. "In seven days how can (Miltenberger) put a program in each of the communities?"

Department of Environment and Natural Resources workers will handle the recycling - along with their regular duties - while the department looks for private contractors, Miltenerger said.

The environment minister said the government will cover those costs, though he did not release specific details when questioned in the house.

The program is designed to eventually pay for itself; the taxes collected on distributors will go towards funding the recycling initiatives, he said.

Miltenberger conceded the plan is being rushed, but with the implementation date already pushed back from Oct.1, he said it was important to get the ball rolling. The tax was approved in the legislative assembly three years ago.

"I believe the people across the Northwest Territories are ready to recycle and take the extra step to protect the environment," said Miltenberger.

He estimated 25 million drink containers are in landfills across the Northwest Territories.