It is the first of a number of plastic items that will be banned in the state this year, a move that advocacy group Plastic Free Port Stephens and Taylors Beach business Port Stephens Packaging has been helping the community prepare for.

"Plastic Free Port Stephens has embarked on a campaign to promote awareness of the ban on single use plastic bags and using the opportunity to introduce eco-friendly bag products into people's daily lives," the group's acting president Chontelle Grecian said.

"The more that we do to minimise our footprint in each individual household, the better for the long-term. And it's easy stuff like reusing bags, using eco-friendly products and making conscious choices about the products we buy."

Single-use plastic items and packaging make up 60 per cent of all litter in NSW.

To reduce the impact plastic pollution is having on the environment, the NSW Government passed the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act 2021 and introduced the Plastics Action Plan last year.

From June 1, lightweight plastic bags - those that are less than 35 microns in thickness at any part - will be banned.

This includes biodegradable, compostable and bioplastic bags. The ban will not apply to bin liners, dog-poo bags, and the thin bags for fresh produce and deli items in supermarkets. Bags used for medical items are also exempt.

Businesses and distributors caught giving out single-use plastic bags after June 1 will face fines of between $11,000 and $250,000.

To help businesses prepare for the bag ban, Port Stephens Packaging has been advising retailers and consumers about alternatives to single-use plastics.

"Most of our customers have already transitioned to compliant shopping bags for their customers," general manager Rob Peel said.

"Printed paper bags have become very popular and we have also created our own Incredible Port Stephens paper bags promoting our region. These bags also help fund initiatives of Plastic Free Port Stephens.

"We also have suitable alternatives to replace plastic straws and cutlery, plastic bowls and plated and expanded polystyrene products."

Port Stephens Packaging can also complete a "green audit" on a business and advise how it can introduce eco-friendly and sustainable products, and phase out plastics ahead of further bans this year.

From November, the NSW Government is banning single-use plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, bowls and cotton buds, expanded polystyrene food ware and cups and rinse-off personal care products containing plastic microbeads.

The ban will prevent almost 2.7 billion items of plastic litter from entering the environment in the next 20 years.

While single-use plastic bags are now banned, Ms Grecian urged the Port community who might still have some to not throw them out.

"The best bags to use are the ones you already have. Use your bags until they have no more life left then put them in a soft plastic recycling container," she said.

"The new legislation doesn't extend to produce bags so we would encourage residents to look at incorporating reusable bags into their 'bag stash' and make decisions based on what's best for the environment."

For more information on the plastic bag ban go to dpie.nsw.gov.au, and follow Plastic Free Port Stephens and Port Stephens Packaging.

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