Make sure you stash plenty of reusable shopping bags in your car and handbag as single-use plastic bags are no more in Western Australia with a state-wide ban of the environmentally damaging item taking effect on Sunday.

Australia consumes at least 9 billion single-use plastic bags a year but the tide is turning. Credit:Wolter Peeters

Environment Minister Stephen Dawson will officially announce the ban at The Market Place Ballajura IGA, saying taking the lightweight plastic bags out of circulation had strong community support and was a significant win for the environment.

“Today marks a significant milestone in Western Australia to reduce the impacts of lightweight plastic on our environment,” he said.

“Studies have shown significant damage caused by plastic pollution - seabirds have been found with their digestive tracts filled with plastic fragments and turtles can confuse plastic bags with jellyfish.