Shops in Fremantle are not allowed to hand out single-use plastic bags from next week.

The local law—an Australia-first—applies to all retailers within the municipality. Those who ignore the ban can be fined.

“With this local law in place, we hope that the Fremantle community will begin to make a more conscious effort to move away from using plastics which are having an enormous effect on our oceans in particular,” says Plastic Free Freo spokesperson Wade Harrison.

“There are many councils in WA paying close attention to the outcome of this initiative in the hopes to do the same.”

Retailers do not have to provide alternative bags but if they do, they must charge at least 10c per bag and the alternatives must be fully compostable.

by SOPHIE MITCHELL