The P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission plans to end the use of disposable plastic bags at its stores this fall.

The change comes following a campaign by Cornwall town Coun. Marlene Hunt, who wanted Island liquor stores to follow the lead of Ontario and Nova Scotia in banning the bags.

"I just care about the environment and I like to do what I can do, and that's the perfect area to start because the government has a monopoly in those stores," Hunt told CBC News on Thursday.

Wayne MacDougall, head of the P.E.I. Liquor Control Comission, said he has heard similar concerns from a number of people, and plans to replace plastic bags with reusable ones by the fall. Paper bags will still be available.

The liquor commission is not the only retailer considering change.

Two Charlottetown Co-ops say the reusable bags they offer in their stores are becoming more popular, and that has them thinking about the way they pack groceries.

Disposables getting costly

Rhonda Victor, with the Co-op on Walker Drive, said her store dropped the price of reusable bags to 25 cents Wednesday and almost sold out. The store also offers a five-cent rebate every time they're used.

"We are thrilled. At 25 cents, it's such a great buy," said Victor.

"Even if they're not using them for groceries, you can use them for other things as well."

The environment is not the only concern for the Co-ops. The price of the disposable bags is going up with the price of oil. In the last few weeks, Victor said, the price has increased from seven cents to 11 cents a bag.

With those costs increasing, the Co-op may soon stop giving out free disposable bags.