Major Canadian Retailer To Charge For Plastic Bags

May 19, 2009 12:48 p.m. EST

Toronto, Ontario (AHN) - Canadian retail chain Metro, Inc., announced the launch of its Green Apple School Program. The program, which officially starts June 1, 2009, will have Metro stores in Ontario and Quebec collect five cents for plastic shopping bags.

The initiative aims to cut the number of plastic bags in circulation in the two Canadian provinces. Metro's target is to halve its plastic bag issuance by December 2010.

Robert Sawyer, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Metro, said in a statement, "This measure will enable us to reduce the impact of our operations on the environment and promote healthy living habits."

The money to be collected from the bag fee, estimated to reach $2 million, will be split equally between Ontario and Quebec to fund the Green Apple School Program which will encourage schools to take part in green programs and will offer grants to conservation and healthy living proposals submitted by teachers and students.

Metro has been providing reusable bags to its shoppers since 2006. Two other major grocery chains in Canada - Loblaws and Sobeys - have also been collecting a nickel per plastic bag issued. Sobeys charges the bag fee only in Ontario.

Ontario grocers have participated since 2007 in a program initiated by the provincial government to cut by 50 percent the number of plastic bags distributed in the area within the next five years. Prior to the program, Ontario residents used about 80 plastic bags per second.