A Calgary alderman wants to explore phasing out plastic bags in the city. (CBC)

A Calgary alderman wants city council to look at reducing the number of plastic bags used in the city.

Ward 8 Ald. John Mar is planning to put forward a motion on Monday, asking the city to generate a report on alternatives, which could include charging usage fees, legislating biodegradable bags or bringing in an outright ban.

San Francisco and the Manitoba town of Leaf Rapids banned non-recyclable plastic bags last year. Regions of South Africa, Ireland and Taiwan have placed additional fees and taxes on the bags to discourage use. A Toronto bylaw that goes into effect June 1 will force shoppers to pay five cents for plastic bags.

"We want to fulfill council's strategy of a reduction of 80 per cent of our landfill in 20 years and this is just another piece of that puzzle," said Mar on Friday.

"The amount of plastic that ends up in our landfill costs all Calgarians, costs all Canadians millions and millions of dollars in terms of cleanup, energy being used to manufacture these, as well as an environmental issue."

Larry Herrod loads groceries into his van outside the Real Canadian Superstore in Airdrie. (CBC)

Mar said 31 million plastic bags are recycled in Calgary every year — but estimated that accounts for only four per cent of the total number circulating in the city.

Many Calgarians told CBC they already carry reusable cloth bags or bins in an attempt to avoid plastic.

"I find now buying the reusable bags are much handier," said Larry Herrod, loading up groceries outside the Real Canadian Superstore in Airdrie, which stopped offering plastic bags six months ago.

"I actually like it now so it's just a matter of getting used to. And it's good for the environment."

Many Calgarians said they use reusable grocery bags. (CBC)

But shopper Gayle Hopkins said she still hasn't gotten used to remembering to bring reusable bags with her.

"I have to remember everything, and if I don't have my recyclable bags with me, I may not go do groceries," she said.

Helen Smith, who manages Bownesian Grocer in the northwest, said bagging groceries in plastic bags is quicker than in reusable ones, but pointed out they cost the independent store more money.

"It's $10,000 a year as a small independent that we put out. It would take some getting used to but overall, I think it would be better," she said.

The Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors is not in favour of bans, and said it would prefer to work with larger jursidictions, rather than city by city, to find ways to reduce plastic bag usage.

"We'd prefer to be dealing with provincial bodies, not one municipality," said Allen Langdon, a vice-president with the group. "Most of the work underway in other jurisdictions has been working with provincial bodies. In Ontario, we've agreed to reduce 50 per cent over five years."

Calgary's Community Natural Foods has stopped using plastic bags, while Planet Organic is phasing them out.

If council approves Mar's motion on Monday, he hopes a report can be presented to the Utilities and Environment Committee this spring.