PLASTIC bags are set to become a thing of the past in Maldon.

From Thursday, stores that previously supplied plastic bags will instead hand out a recycled paper alternative.

Reusable calico bags will also be available throughout the town. 

Maldon will become the first plastic bag free town in Mount Alexander Shire – something mayor and Maldon resident Sharon Telford welcomed.

“Reusable bags are a simple and effective way that we can all reduce our impact on the environment,” she said.

“It’s small decisions that have a lasting impact and I’m very proud of our community for taking this step.”

Loddon Mallee Waste and Resource Recovery Group executive officer Karen Fazzani “strongly encouraged” Maldon residents to support the town traders and remember to take their reusable bags. 

“Every effort in this regard helps protect the environment from damage plastic bags can cause especially when they take such a long time to break down,” she said.

Plastic bags can take up to 1000 years to break down, and are thought to be responsible for killing more than 1 million seabirds and 100,000 mammals annually.

Maldon is one of about 30 towns in the Loddon Mallee region that are plastic bag free.

Castlemaine is working towards joining their midst.

A raffle will run throughout July, to encourage people to make use of their reusable bags.

People can enter the draw to win a hamper worth $250 every time they shop in Maldon with their bags. 

The hamper is made up of items from stores participating in the Plastic Bag Free Maldon initiative.

Organisers have invited people to drop into the Maldon Neighbourhood Centre at 1pm on Thursday for the program launch and to collect their calico bag.