NUNAVUT - Shoppers in the territory's NorthMart and Northern stores will be charged a quarter for every plastic bag starting Jan. 17.

Iqaluit resident Peter Akavak walks home after shopping in the city's NorthMart on Jan. 11. The Northwest Company, which owns 21 NorthMart and Northern stores in Nunavut, will start charging customers a quarter for plastic bags on Jan. 17. - Jeanne Gagnon/NNSL photo

The North West Company, which owns 21 stores in Nunavut, said they are doing it for environmental reasons, not economical ones, said Michael McMullen, the executive vice-president of northern Canada retail at the company.

"We think it's the right thing to do for the environment. We're not worried about covering any of the costs of the bags or shipping the bags to the North," he said. "In Nunavut, we're going to charge 25 cents but all the proceeds are going to be directly flowed back to community initiatives regarding the environment."

He added they still have to determine the exact project but the company is looking for an overall environmental program and hopes to partner with schools.

Northern and NorthMart shoppers in the territory use 3.3 million plastic bags a year, including about 950,000 yearly at Iqaluit's NorthMart store, said McMullen.

He added the first year goal is to replicate the 70 per cent decrease in plastic bag usage that happened in their NWT stores when the NWT government implemented a 25 cent levy on plastic bags about a year ago.

"Our end goal is to take out all plastic bags but you have to keep some for certain products like poultry and some other products," he said.

The North West Company will give out 19,000 reusable bags in the coming weeks – two to each household -- in Nunavut communities where they have a store, said McMullen.

Three shoppers outside Iqaluit's NorthMart said the new measure will entice them to bring reusable bags.

"It's a good thing for the environment. It's only a quarter. It's a good thing, I think. I'll use my recyclable bags," said Lisa Pollock.

Rachel Idlout said she will use reusable bags rather than pay a quarter for plastic ones.

"I thought (10) cents at Arctic Ventures was a lot but a quarter is a little more, a little too much," she said.

When told the money collected will be used for environmental programs such as community cleanups, changed her opinion somewhat.

"Maybe sometimes I'll buy their bags," she said.

Kelly Strader said she's glad the North West Company plans to use the money collected for environmental programs in communities.

"They charge more than what the southern stores do but I'm not surprised. Arctic Ventures does it already so they're just following suit," she said. "I'll bring recyclable bags with me for sure."

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