NB Liquor close to wrapping up search for plastic bag replacement

NB Liquor's quest to rid its stores of plastic bags may be ending soon, as the corporation plans to decide on a reusable, recyclable bag for customers as early as this week.

After CBC News reported two weeks ago that the agency was having trouble finding a replacement for traditional plastic bags, many customers offered examples of reusable, recyclable bags they had found in areas from Nova Scotia to Florida.

Nora Lacey, a spokeswoman for NB Liquor, said the corporation has looked at many of those bags, but there's a problem.

"They are all made in Asia and are made with 100 per cent polypropylene. This issue with these types of bags is that they are not recyclable here in New Brunswick or in Canada," Lacey said.

"So that means in order to recycle these bags, they would have to be transported back to Asia to where they were manufactured."

Lacey said talks have been underway with a New Brunswick supplier who may be able to come up with a prototype that can be recycled in the province.

In late March, Lacey said it would likely take a few months before the new bags would be in NB Liquor outlets.

Unlike the reusable bags sold by grocery stores, Lacey said the liquor corporation needs ones with compartments so bottles don't bang together while being carried.