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Bag levy to target grocery stores first

Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services
Published Friday, August 21, 2009

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Shoppers can expect grocery stores to be the first among retailers to charge a 25 cent plastic bag levy, with a target start date of Nov. 1.

NNSL photo/graphic

Trina Rentmeister shows off her reusable bags stuffed with groceries after shopping at the Yellowknife Direct Co-op Wednesday. She supports the GNWT's plastic bag levy, which is slated to begin Nov. 1. - Mike W. Bryant/NNSL photo

Ken Hall, manager of environmental protection with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said his office is in the final stage of consultations with retailers across the NWT.

Although nothing is written stone quite yet, he said the plan calls for a phased-in approach with grocery stores the first on the list to be charged the levy, which will be passed on to customers.

"On the first of November there will be a number of retailers who will be included in the first phase of the program," said Hall.

"That's when the levy will come into effect, and then within the next one to two years, that's when all retailers will be included in the program."

The plastic bag levy was first revealed in Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger's budget last February in an effort to ween NWT residents off single-use bags that litter streets and bushes alike and clog up landfills.

The government estimates nine million plastic bags end up in landfills each year. Miltenberger's announcement was followed by a GNWT campaign to hand out 30,000 reusable shopping bags to residents last April.

Hall said regulations will need to be updated under the Waste Reduction and Recovery Act before the levy can be introduced.

He said the feedback from retailers has been mainly positive so far.

"It's a bit of an unknown so some are unsure how it will play out, and some are concerned about costs to consumers," said Hall.

"Some are saying, 'hey, this is great, we support this.' Others have already stopped providing the types of bags we're targeting in their stores already."

The two Extra Foods stores in the city began charging a five cent fee last May. The stores' owner, Loblaw, issued a press release stating partial proceeds collected from the fee would be donated to the World Wildlife Fund.

It remains unclear what amount Extra Foods will charge for plastic bags once the GNWT's own bag levy comes into effect, whether rolling in their own fee with the 25 cent levy or charge 30 cents. A Loblaw spokesperson said she would find someone to speak to the issue, but Yellowknifer was still waiting at press time.

– with files from Andrew Livingstone