"The main philosophy of the bags has been achieved and people are now carrying their bags," said Kay Barton.

"The supermarkets changed everything really."

The group has been operating for the past two years, with bags available from a local cafe, fruit shops and heath food shop, but has found the sale of the bags started to drop off after Christmas.

"We see that as a good thing. People have purchased their reusable bags... we feel the job has been done," said Kay.

The group started to make the fabric bags after learning about the original boomerang bag initiative in Queensland, where no longer used fabric was used to make shopping bags.

The idea was for the fabric bags to act like a boomerang; to be given to people who didn't have a reusable bag with them and that would be returned next time they shopped.

The Manning Valley group was formed by friends who attended the same gym class and decided to make bags together but with the purpose of them being sold and not expected to be returned.

"We thought we'd put a Manning Valley Boomerang Bags logo on them and we could sell them as souvenirs and collectibles," said Kay.

"They have made great gifts."

An added bonus was that you could also put the bags in the washing machine.

The Manning Valley Boomerang Bags group became one of about 1000 groups to be formed in Australia and New Zealand from the original concept.

Taree Uniting Church supported them from the start. It was suggested they join the church's craft group, and while the Boomerang Bag group remained separate, they were given a room and sewing machines to use.

"We were working at a different pace and for a different reason."

People donated fabric for the group to make the bags, Kay saying, "we've had a lot of fabric donated that has never been used so the bags are brand new."

The group comes together once a week and it is estimated about 500 bags have been made (sold for $2 to $3 each).

It is a time consuming process.

"They've got to be cut, then there's quite a bit of measuring, ironing, handles and pockets that need to be positioned, and then we overlock," said Kay.

The profits were used to buy a sewing machine, which will be donated once the group finishes up.

The group has had community support from the beginning.

In the early days they secured a waste grant from JR Richards, which went towards the purchase of a screen and squeegee so they could screen print the logo onto the bags.

That process was time consuming and so as time went on they purchased fabric logos that are now sewn onto the bags. Once those purchased logos have been used up, Kay said the group will finish making the bags.

Kay said there has been many positives come from the group.

"It's not just about recycling and getting plastic out of the environment. It's also about the social experience... and getting out into the community and using your skills. We have a lot of fun on the whole."

Once the boomerang bags project is done, the group will form a book club so they can stay in contact.

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