Toronto grocery stores continue to “collect nickels” from plastic bag sales to fund environmental programs, but are vague about how much or where the money is actually going to.
The city dropped its mandatory five-cent bag fee as of July 1 and left it up to businesses to decide whether to keep charging or to waive the fee. However, the majority of grocery stores are still asking customers to pay for plastic.
“Our goal is to reduce the number of plastic shopping bags in use, not to collect nickels,” Loblaw spokesman Julija Hunter said Wednesday, adding Loblaws implemented a pay-per-bag approach six months prior to the city’s bylaw and No Frills has been charging for bags since 1987.
“Customers who choose to pay for plastic shopping bags can do so knowing that partial proceeds from our charge-for-plastic shopping bag program support World Wildlife Fund Canada initiatives. We have donated $4 million in four years from the proceeds.”
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However, Hunter refused to disclose the number of bags sold each year or the revenue Loblaws collected.
“Proceeds for sale of bags go to pay for cost of the bag, store marketing costs associated with reduction of plastic bag use and donations,” she said. “We have 71% fewer bags from our stores as a result of approach.”
The lack of transparency continues to be a problem and the defunct bylaw had no control over that, Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday said.
“The money’s theirs to do what they please,” Holyday said. “I certainly would not be supportive of anyone gouging consumers, but again, whether they charge or don’t charge for the bags is a decision they make on behalf of their own businesses.”
But it’s not just Loblaws. Other big chain stores such as Metro and Sobeys are also charging for bags.
via Grocery stores continue to nickel and dime for plastic bags | Toronto & GTA | News | Toronto Sun.