The Warehouse says it's listening to consumers, as it ditches single-use plastic bags.

They'll be gone by the end of the year, and replaced with compostable bags.

The change will affect more than 250 Warehouse, Noel Leeming, Torpedo7, and Warehouse Stationery stores.

Spokesman David Benattar says the company is bringing in the kind of shopping bag customers want most.

"The majority would prefer to shop from a retailer that offers compostable recyclable bags, so the plant-based solution just makes sense."

The new bags will cost 15 cents, with all proceeds going to charities and local communities.

Almost $4 million dollars has been given to charities since the firm started charging for plastic bags in 2009.

Benattar says the move will have a positive impact across the board.

"It's about 21 million bags a year that will be replaced from plastic to plant-based compostable bags so it's great news for the environment, it's also great news for the community."

Changes will take effect by the end of the year.

Zero Waste Network is applauding the move to switch to compostable bags, but says the environment won't truly benefit until shoppers bring their own.

 

Chairman, Marty Hoffart, says compostable bags sound good, but they do still cause problems in a landfill.

"When you put a compostable product in a landfill it decomposes and it turns into greenhouse gases so on the one hand it sounds like a really good idea, it actually can do more harm than good."