NSLC ditching plastic bags

Plastic bags are disappearing from liquor stores around Nova Scotia.

The Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. announced Monday it plans to stop using plastic bags this fall as a way to keep waste out of landfills.

"It will make it difficult for some folks who are very dedicated to using plastic bags for other purposes in their daily lives, and I'm sure they can find alternatives for cleaning up after their dogs or doing other things that will be easier on the environment than using plastic bags," said NSLC spokesman Rick Perkins.

The Crown corporationisgiving awaya reusable bag to anyone who buys three or more bottles of wine this month. Starting May 1, the bags will cost $1.49 each.

The liquor stores will still use brown paper bags, Perkins said,and people are free to bring in their own reusable or plasticbags.

Perkins said more than10 million plastic bags are used at liquor stores every year.

The NSLC is the latest retailer to phase out plastic bags. The Atlantic Superstore on Quinpool Road in Halifax got rid of them in February, while Pete's Frootique charges for them.