WHETHER you love them or you hate them, no one can argue that plastic bags don't have their advantages.
Durability, strength, low cost, light weight and water resistance are just a few of the reasons why the plastic bag became so popular when it was first introduced 30 years ago.
But for the people who hate to see white shopping bags blowing across roads and getting caught in trees, and the wildlife lovers who worry about the hazard they may cause to small animals, the plastic bag has become a blight on the earth.
And in today's more environmentally-aware society, the chemicals used in the creation of plastic bags, and the recycling issues that surround them have caused a nation-wide backlash against the once-convenient commodity of modern day life.
People throughout the country have grown slowly but surely more aware of the issue of plastic bags over recent years.
Many supermarkets have made their own attempts at curbing the use of plastic bags - through banning them for a day, asking shoppers if they really need a bag, and of course, offering alternative reusable bags, sometimes at no cost.
And in his first climate speech, Prime Minister Gordon Brown vowed to seek the end of 'one-use' plastic bags.
But despite these initiatives and promises, thousands of plastic bags are still being produced and used all over the country.
So it is not surprising that towns and boroughs are now becoming or hoping to become 'plastic bag free' - an idea first put into practice by the small country town of Modbury, South Devon.
Garstang Town Council are hoping to discuss plans to follow Modbury's example with the Town Trust and the Chamber of Trade in the new year.
For Coun Lady Dulcie Atkins, who proposed a similar scheme at last month's council meeting, and the people who agree with her, the idea of a ban on plastic bags fits in nicely with various contemporary attitudes in Garstang.
These include the strong Fairtrade movement and the efforts being made by the Britain in Bloom committee to push for a more environmentally-friendly approach to life in preparation for the 2008 Entente Florale contest, which wants to see evidence of eco-friendly values.
In Modbury, the initiative was pushed by the traders themselves, who made it their mission to actively demonstrate their responsibility and commitment towards the local environment by completely ending the availability of plastic bags in the town.
Every trader joined together to make the scheme a success. First, they held a trial to see how successful the idea would be. Then, on May 1, 2007 they officially became the first town in the British Isles to stop issuing plastic shopping bags.
In order to give the initiative a kick-start, each householder was given a Fairtrade reusable cotton carrier bag by the Plymouth and South West Co-operative, the town's local supermarket.
Residents were also encouraged to take their own shopping bags into town, or to buy a reusable and environmentally friendly carrier bag on sale in many of the town's shops.
Modbury's very own 'Plastic Bag Free' website gives viewers the following facts: A person uses a plastic carrier bag on average for only 12 minutes; a plastic bag can take between 500 to 1000 years to break down in the environment; in the UK at least 200 million plastic bags end up as litter on our beaches, streets and parks ever year; and when a plastic bag enters the ocean it becomes a harmful piece of litter.
The website is careful to advise viewers on what exactly constitutes a more eco-friendly alternative to plastic. Just because a material is reusable and natural, does not necessarily mean it is better for the environment than plastic, the website warns.
But Modbury has a list of recommended bag wholesalers credited for supplying products that have been meticulously sourced.
Modbury's scheme has been such a success that other towns nearby have quickly followed suit, and now many London boroughs and cities such as Leicester are considering a complete ban.
But would the idea work in Garstang?
To begin with, the town's three major supermarkets are already making efforts to cut down on the use of plastic bags.
A spokesperson for Somerfield said: "Somerfield is keen to educate and change consumer habits and to offer more responsible alternatives to disposable bags. We believe that the key is to encourage consumers to change their habits, give them genuine alternatives and reward responsible behaviour. We are also training our store colleagues to help communicate these messages and to ask shoppers if they actually require a carrier bag."
Over the past six months, Somerfield has offered bag recycling in 90% of stores, offered their 'Bag For Life' for free when five disposable bags are recycled, introduced a smaller carrier bag for small shopping trips (using 40% less raw material) and introduced a free Long-Life 'Tote' bag, requesting a donation to Macmillan Cancer Support of £1.
Future plans include introducing more eco-friendly bag alternatives, a wine carrier for life (reducing corrugated card use), a high recycled content disposable carrier and to improve current disposable bag specification to increase reuse.
A spokeswoman for The Co-operative Group said: "The Co-operative Group and other co-operative societies are piloting home compostable, starch-based bags in a number of locations and are also supporting community-led initiatives across the country, to reduce the use of plastic carrier bags. We also offer Bags for Life and our Fairtrade cotton Bags for Life are particularly popular."
And a Booths spokesperson said: "Booths is committed to reducing the number of carrier bags and only last month announced, thanks to the help of its customers, it was the first food store to meet the national target to reduce plastic bag usage by 25%."
But when it comes to banning plastic bags completely, it seems that Booths might have a more reserved approach.
The spokesperson continued: "Booths' environmental campaign has always been proactive and involves working with its customers in order to give them a choice and offer alternatives, whether it be jute bags, bags for life or recycling facilities, as well as encouraging them to reduce, reuse and recycle their carrier bags, rather than having that decision taken away from them."
And Sue Ritchie, president of Garstang Chamber of Trade, also approached the issue with caution.
She said: "It's a good idea, but we can't just whiz ahead. We would need to talk to people and see what's what. I personally feel you've got to take everybody's opinion.
"People will have to get together and think about exactly what road we go down. We would have to get all the information and see what alternatives are available. Whatever we do we've got to have co-operation. There would have to be a majority of traders in favour - everyone would have to agree. You can't coerce people into something like this."
Sue also spoke of other possible implications of plastic alternatives, such as the planting of cotton for bags instead of food.
But she added: "I think given the ecological profile within Wyre and Garstang, we are quite good at these things.
"It would be a shame to go in the face of that. Personally, I think it would be nice to go ahead with it.
"I can't impose my views on people and I would obviously go with the majority. I shall sit on the fence and wait and see.
"Rebellion and people pulling in completely opposite directions would be a complete waste of time."
So will plastic bags become a thing of the past in Garstang? Only time will tell.