SINCE taking part in the Bag Smart campaign in 2003, Esperance has achieved an overall reduction of about 60 per cent in the usage of plastic bags.
Liquorland has topped the highest reduction percentage at 96 per cent since 2003.
At the start of the campaign they were using 800 bags per week now in 2008 that number has dramatically fallen to 30 bags per week.
Esperance IGA closely follows them with a 94 per cent reduction. They went down from 7500 bags per week to an amazing 431 bags.
A significant step in achieving this has been charging customers 10c per bag, with the money going towards helping local community groups.
Bradshaw’s pharmacy has achieved a reduction of 85 per cent with100 bags per week in 2005 being reduced to 15 per week in 2008.
However despite the achievements of these stores Recycling Promotions Officer Georgia Ryan said bag use at discount stores and delis has not really changed and in some cases has increased.
“I think because people just go there for a couple of things they don’t think about taking their reusable bags,” she said.
“People need to get into the habit of taking a reusable bag everywhere, even just to get the bread, milk and paper.”
Ms Ryan said with Esperance being a coastal community, plastic bags can find their way to the ocean or the lakes causing serious harm to the aquatic life.