Retailers disagree over what should be done with plastic

There may be few grocery stores in Jasper, but the people in charge of the ones we do have disagree about what the town’s rules regarding plastic bags should be.

A meeting at the end of July hosted by environmental stewardship coordinator Janet Cooper showed that a handful of residents were interested in taking action to reduce the number of plastic bags distributed by retailers in Jasper, by either imposing a fee for the bags or outright banning them.

Sandy Coombe, manager of Nutter’s bulk and natural foods, said not only does she support a bag fee, but that the store has undertaken its own similar initiatives in the past. “We had a voluntary bag deposit,” Coombe said. Last summer Nutter’s “rewarded” shoppers who brought their own bags by making a small donation to the charity of the bag-bearer’s choice. 

“People loved it,” she said, adding the same idea could be instituted as a fee, where the revenue would be used to make a charitable donation. As for an outright ban, Coombe said it would be difficult for Nutter’s because of its bulk food section and for visitors in general. “If they were going to do a bag ban, everyone would need to get a bag at the park gate,” she said.

The Nutter’s chain has a new biodegradable bag that hasn’t reached the store in Jasper. “I think that’s a far better alternative,” she said, adding that it will be “far more expensive” but worth it.

When Super A tried biodegradable shopping bags customers complained that they weren’t strong enough, said Craig Sollitt, director of retail operations. Now the store sells a reusable bag for 99 cents. “It’s been very very popular, so much we’re having a hard time keeping them in supply,” he said. “We advertise that one frequently.” 

Sollitt said that his former employer gave a discount to customers who brought bags, a plan that failed miserably. “It was not effective at all, but a bag fee, that might be the way to go,” Sollitt said. “If it would work we’d be all for it, we would absolutely support any alternative.”

Ray Robinson, of Robinson’s Foods, said he would protest a mandatory bag fee and that business owners should be free to decide for themselves. “I’m not against reducing the use of plastic, but as a business owner it’s just more to track,” he said. “It’s an option but it’s not the best option.”

He said the ideal solution is to make cloth reusable bags available. “People are not averse to paying a little more for a good, durable bag,” Robinson said. He said the cloth bags Robinson’s had at the beginning of the summer sold out in less than a week and that he’s been trying to get more in ever since.

Cooper said she will meet with the environmental stewardship committee to develop the best plan of action for the bags, then schedule a second meeting for September. “I do foresee that there will be great opposition from the business community,” Cooper said. “We have to think about going about this in a way that’s going to work for everybody.”