More than 500 residents were asked for their views on banning non-resuable plastic carrier bags and 78 per cent agreed they should go.
The survey was carried out by Oakham-based Lands' End which is running the Rutland Carry-a-bag campaign with the county council, backed by the Mercury. The campaign has three stages. The first stage is to urge traders not offer a bag unless requested; stage two is to have a durable alternative bag for sale and the final aim is for retailers to stock only reusable bags.
A total of 523 people were asked for their views with 93 per cent in favour of providing a single use carrier bag only on request and less than two per cent were strongly against this. The survey also found that while 85 per cent of people owned a 'bag for life', less than half always used one.
Mark Harris, employee services director at Lands' End said: "Many Rutland retailers are engaging enthusiastically with the Carry-a-bag campaign and are operating at stage one or two. I am also pleased that Tesco in Oakham is also moving to only offer plastic bags on request. "
Pete Fell, Lands' End corporate social responsibility manager, said that progress was being made on a Rutland bag-for-life, which will raise money for Oakham and Uppingham In Bloom.
He said: "Our prototype was made from recycled plastic bottles. We were not happy with the quality of the fabric, so we are having a second prototype made from canvas cotton. If we are happy with this product we will then approach the retailers of Rutland to support us."
To see the full survey findings visit www.rutland.gov.uk/carryabag