He has called on his fellow councillors and local governments across the state to get behind a bold plan to ban the bags.

South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and ACT already have successful plastic bag bans in place

“For some time we have all been talking about the plastic bag scenario,” he said.

“In a small way we can tell by Aldi that you can certainly run a successful business by not providing plastic bags. 

“The other issue is that we are on the coast and the plastic has a tremendous effect on the marine life. I think we are in a perfect position to actually show leadership.

“There is going to be an election next year, so let’s get all the politicians to come out and say for once and for all we are going to do something about the plastic in the environment.”

Cr Hulin suggested cotton bags as an alternative to plastic.

“We can look to Europe and see how they have managed it over there,” he said.

“I think Warrnambool can lead the charge and write to every council in the state. We can try to get support with a united voice that we can do something about the plastic.”

He said Warrnambool could introduce its own bags available for purchase, and they could be used as as a marketing tool to promote the city.

“The cotton-type bags are very easily carried and they could promote a business or a city,” he said.

“Once you have them, you keep them.”

He said synthetic bags were too bulky, and not easily carried around.

Cr Hulin is also calling for the introduction of a bottle and can recycling scheme in Victoria, similar to what South Australia offers.

“If it can work in South Australia, why on earth can’t it work here, when it’s a more concentrated area,” he said.

“It’s 2017, for God’s sake, it’s time we did something about it. It’s a small way of educating people about rubbish, that it shouldn’t just be tossed away.”

Statistics from Greenpeace show Australians use around four billion plastic bags every year, which adds up to about 10 million  a day.

An estimated 50 million bags end up in waterways and the ocean.