SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Shoppers at Kim's Confectionery may have noticed some additional signage in the shop, already brimming with advertisements for spices and imported foods.

The Franklin Avenue convenience store has begun charging 25 cents for each non-reusable plastic bag it offers customers to carry groceries.

Owner and manager Luc Nguyen said his store is now considered a grocery store by the territorial government and as a result, he has to pay a bag levy for each non-reusable bag handed to customers, and must pass that fee on to customers.

He said he received notice in the middle of March. His initial response was that his business wasn't a grocery store, but the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said he must comply.

So far, Nguyen said customers haven't put up any fuss. He said most people have already seen the signs elsewhere.

"They're OK. They know it's for the environment," he said.

The GNWT first instituted a levy on plastic and paper bags on Jan. 15, but that only affected the two Extra Foods outlets, the Yellowknife Co-op, and Nico's Market.

Now Kim's, Northern Fancy Meats, the downtown Reddi Mart and the M&M Meat Shop must start charging the fee, said Judy McLinton, a spokesperson for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

McLinton said stores are considered grocery stores if they're the only store selling food in the community or if they're larger than 1,500 square feet and the majority of items being sold are groceries.

The downtown Reddi Mart's owner Qui Pham said she was surprised the GNWT would consider her business a grocery store.

She said she hasn't decided if she'll appeal the decision.

She said her store's sign is clear about it being a convenience store and the late-night hours aren't typical for a grocery store.

"It's not really fair for the customers," she said.

"They don't really bring the reusable bags with them."

She has not yet been told when to start charging customers and is debating whether she'll start selling reusable bags.

Nguyen orders plastic bags wholesale from Edmonton and will pay the levy in advance. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources collects money from the wholesaler in Edmonton on a quarterly basis, not directly from stores.

McLinton said the money will go to waste reduction and recycling programs in the NWT.

Nguyen said he uses between 6,000 and 10,000 plastic bags per year. He said from now on, he has to submit a form to the GNWT detailing his bag sales, just as he would for cigarettes.

Nguyen is hoping he'll see an increase in customers who bring cloth bags with them, thereby reducing the number of plastic bags he has to sell.

"When they see the sign, they'll take the bag with them," he said.