Single-use plastic bags will be banned from Woolworths supermarkets from Wednesday, IGA stores by June 30 and Coles supermarkets from July 1 in Victoria with other businesses expected to follow suit. 

The Woolworths ban includes supermarkets, BWS stores and Woolworths petrol stations with the changes at rival Coles including Liquorland stores.

While supermarket shoppers are encouraged to bring their own reusable bags, thicker plastic bags and canvas bags will be able to be purchased. 

Online supermarket orders will be packed into reusable bags, or plastic crates which will be unpacked by the delivery driver when they arrive.

The move comes after the state government announced in October it would ban single-use, light-weight plastic shopping bags in Victoria.

Plastics in the environment contribute to litter and pose a significant hazard to marine life.

Warrnambool Swinton’s IGA manager Brett Maloney said they began using alternative bags about two weeks ago and customers had responded well to the change.

“It’s only when they forget them that they get annoyed,” Mr Maloney said. “(The reusable bags are) 15 cents each and the idea is once you’ve got them you’ve got them for good. There’s a few different varieties. If they want it they’ll get it and if they don’t they’ll carry their groceries or get a box.”

Bakers Delight customer relations co-ordinator Peter Jones said they had also joined the movement, introducing a thicker multi-use plastic bag for customers to use by July 1. The Warrnambool store will phase out single-use plastic shopping bags by the end of the week. He said customers could purchase a reusable bag made of natural fibres. 

The Standard contacted KMart, Target and Brumby’s Bakery but representatives did not respond.