Click on the town names below to find out what each town has achieved

In March 2002, Coles Bay became the First Plastic Bag Free Town in Australia. This launch created huge media attention both here and overseas.

In November 2003, the popular tourist destination of Kangaroo Valley became Mainland Australia's First Plastic Bag Free Town when the town banned the use of plastic check-out bags.

The town's 39 retailers will instead be offering reusable calico and paper bags.

"The project happened so quickly and smoothly," says Glyn Stones, local coordinator of the Kangaroo Valley 'Plastic Bag Free' project. "With the support of Planet Ark, the local tourist association and the town's retailers, going plastic check-out bag free was really easy".

Click on the pictures of Kangaroo Valley below to view them as larger images.

Huskisson, the main town adjoining Jervis Bay National Park, also declared that it was 100% plastic check-out bag free in November 2003. With 91 retailers, Huskisson was the biggest town to join Planet Ark's 'Plastic Bag Free Town' campaign.

Matt Cross, local coordinator of the Huskisson 'Plastic Bag Free' project says "Huskisson has 91 retailers and over 750,000 visitors every year. If we can go Plastic Bag Free there's no reason why other towns can’t do the same," he says.

Huskisson went 'Plastic Check-out Bag Free' to protect the abundant marine life that inhabits Jervis Bay Marine Park and to stop plastic bag littering the adjoining Jervis Bay National Park.

"Going plastic check-out bag free has been a really positive experience for the whole town," says Matt Cross, the local coordinator of the Huskisson Plastic Bag Free Project.

"It has really galvanised the community – key local organisations like the Navy, the Chamber of Commerce, the Marine Parks Authority, PADI Australia, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Shoalhaven Council all helped us to make this a reality."

Click on the pictures of Huskisson below to view them as larger images.

Sydney's Oyster Bay became the first city suburb in Australia to ban plastic bags in May 2004.

All retail outlets have stopped the use of plastic check-out bags and instead locals now bring their own reusable bags when they shop. People visiting the area and shoppers that forget to bring their own bags can buy affordable and reusable paper or calico bags printed with the Oyster Bay message.

Oyster Bay has shown that city suburbs can easily do their bit to reduce the billions of plastic check-out bags that Australians use every year.

Oyster Bay retailers were galvanised into action by Alexandra Hills and her Sister-in-Law Caroline Hills – both full-time mums. Alexandra Hills said, "Thousands of people live in Oyster Bay. With Planet Ark's help, we've shown that any city suburb with locally owned retail outlets can go plastic bag free at the check-out. We would encourage other suburbs and towns around Australia to join us in banning plastic check-out bags."

Birregurra, 'By the Barwon' at the foot of the Otway Ranges, became Victoria’s first Plastic Bag Free town on October 9th 2004.

All 15 retailers in Birregurra are using paper bags instead of plastic, and are encouraging customers to ‘byo’ reusable bags - " if you come to Birregurra shopping, remember to bring your own bag".

The Birregurra Charity Shop was having trouble affording bags to give to their customers so they asked the community for help. They were inundated with paper bags and their members are now also making cloth reusable bags for sale.

In November 2004, Cannon’s Creek in the City of Casey became Victoria’s second community to go Plastic Bag Free.

Cannons Creek was one of 10 towns and two markets to gain funding for the Plastic Bag Free Town Challenge, a partnership between , Planet Ark, EcoRecycle Victoria and Regional Waste Management Groups. Cannons Creek used the funding to supply reusable bags to Cannons Creek residents, and to fund an education and promotional campaign.

According to Mayor, Cr Rob Wilson, the City of Casey is committed to reducing plastic carry bag use.

“Cannons Creek marks the start of our campaign to reduce plastic bag use in Casey. Up to four more towns in the City of Casey could become plastic bag free within the next 2 years, and we are working with those communities to make it happen,” he said.

In September 2003, Mogo, on the NSW south coast, became the first town to join Planet Ark’s Plastic Bag Free Town campaign after the launch of Coles Bay.

To date, 33 of the 35 businesses in Mogo have embraced the initiative and have made the switch to using paper or calico bags instead of plastic.

Both Planet Ark and Eurobodalla Shire Council supported locals to make the change as simple as possible. Planet Ark utilised their experience from Coles Bay in Tasmania to assist local businesses with the transition to becoming Plastic Bag Free. Eurobodalla Shire Council provided local coordination support and the Plastic Bag Free road signs.

The participating businesses have taken to educating their customers by providing reusable calico bags for sale or asking for a donation if customers require a bouquet paper carry bag.

Any extra money raised is donated to local community groups for environmental works.