LIFE without the unlovely but useful plastic bag is hard to imagine in today's consumer society.

We may recycle them as bin liners but billions end up in landfill where they take up to 500 years to rot.

Some towns are managing to survive without them and many more are interested in trying, including Wimborne.

Now Poole is considering jumping on the green banish-the-bag bandwagon, with a motion proposed by Liberal Democrat Cllr Charles Meachin. It calls for the council to consult with traders and residents to seek alternatives and start the process of making the town plastic bag free.

"I am sick of the sight of these plastic bags hanging from the trees on Canford Heath," said Cllr Sandra Moore, who was among the signatories of the motion. "It's such a huge problem. It's not all the supermarkets' fault and they are doing their best, some have biodegradable ones.

"Before we had them we used paper bags, and I am sure it's possible with a bit of thought not to use them."

Modbury in Devon claimed a European first when all 43 shopkeepers joined an initiative suggested by wildlife camerawoman Rebecca Hosking, who lives in the town.

Filming in Hawaii, she was moved to tears by the sight of a turtle slowly dying with a plastic bag in its mouth and seeing albatross feeding plastic to their chicks.

With biodegradable bags, bags for life and recyclable schemes, stores are trying to do their bit to make consumers more environmentally aware.

A Tesco spokesman said: "We're about giving customers all the information to make an informed choice. Incentive to change does work as our measures have helped to save over one billion fewer bags to be given out - bags which themselves are now degradable. Re-using them earns our customers Green Clubcard points, too, and our ever popular jute bag is also helping the environment."

That's the carrot but M&S is about to introduce the stick. Dorset shoppers are among those in the south-west to be charged 5p for grocery carriers next February, after giving away free reusable bags.

The motion will go to the Borough of Poole's environment overview group for discussion. However Cllr Don Collier, portfolio holder for the environment, said council should not be telling business what to do.

"Where it has happened in other places it has been led by industry, the shops, and supported by council," he said.