Plastic bags going out the door are decreasing and reusable bags coming in are increasing at supermarkets which have introduced a charge on plastic bags.
Port Chalmers New World store manager Darryn Jones said since the 5c charge on plastic bags was introduced at the beginning of the month there had been a "huge increase" in the number of people coming in with, or buying, reusable bags.
There had also been a "major reduction" in the quantity of plastic bags the supermarket was ordering from its warehouse.
Before the change, the supermarket had been proactive about reducing plastic bag use, such as giving people who came in with recyclable bags the opportunity to go into a draw to win $100 gift vouchers.
Most people were prepared for the change and it had been well accepted by the community, Mr Jones said.
Supermarkets owned by Foodstuffs NZ - New World, Four Square and Pak'n Save - introduced the plastic bag charge on August 3.
Foodstuffs general manger operations Alan Malcolmson said the shift to charging for plastic bags was going "exceptionally well" throughout the country and there had been no negative response.
Sales of reusable bags had grown "significantly". It was too early to quantify how many fewer plastic bags were being used since the change, he said.
The money from the sale of plastic bags went to Keep New Zealand Beautiful and Department of Conservation projects in the South Island.
