Loading prices...

Register/Sign in
ScrapMonster
Sell Your Junk CarGet an instant quote for your car on ScrapMonster.com
Waste & Recycling January 27, 2016 01:30:21 PM

Walmart Canada to charge 5 cents fee on single-use plastic bags

Carolina Curiel
ScrapMonster Author
Walmart Canada will stop providing plastic bags to customers for free. Starting Feb 9th, customers will have to pay five cents per single-use plastic bag.

Walmart Canada to charge 5 cents fee on single-use plastic bags

TORONTO (Scrap Monster): Walmart Canada will stop providing plastic bags to customers for free. Starting Feb 9th, customers will have to pay five cents per single-use plastic bag. In addition, reusable bags will be offered at a discount of 25 cents per bag, in an attempt to eliminate plastic from landfill and promote the use of reusable bags.

According to Walmart Canada press release, part of the money generated by 5-cent charges will be used to support recycling industry’s efforts to recover plastic films. Additionally, an in-store education and awareness campaign to boost post-consumer film collections at all its store locations across the country. Although all stores collect the bags, the recovery rate at some stores continues to remain weak. Alex Roberton, senior director of corporate affairs for Walmart Canada urged customers to avoid using plastic bags and bring used bags to any of their stores to make sure that they are recycled properly.

The retail chain stores will stop supplying free plastic bags in British Columbia effective Feb 9th. Stores in other provinces will soon follow suit.

The press release noted that studies have identified plastic bags as a serious environmental concern. The recent report published by the World Economic Forum in partnership with Ellen MacArthur Foundation predicts that use of plastics is likely to double in the next 20 years and nearly quadruple over the next 50 years. By 2050, oceans will hold more plastic than fish. Walmart Canada urged customers to support the initiative by eliminating use of plastic bags and switching to reusable bags.

Walmart Canada, a division of Arkansas-based Walmart Stores, Inc., operates a growing chain of 397 stores nationwide serving more than 1.2 million customers each day. With more than 95,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada's largest employers and is ranked one of the country's top 10 most influential brands.

 

×

Quick Search

Advanced Search