The provincial government, along with representatives from the retail industry that account for 90 per cent of stores, is set to announce a plan that could see the use of plastic bags cut in half in the next five years.
The announcement comes as communities such as Fort McMurray have already chosen to ban the use of plastic bags from stores.
But the province's plan won't go as far as placing a ban; instead retailers will have to come up with their own solutions to tackle the issue.
Some retailers may opt to charge for plastic bags, or may offer consumers fabric bags.
But some consumers feel the government's approach isn't going far enough.
"With all the latest concern about the environment and all the bags floating around and the litter problem I just decided to buy bags and it's easier," said Evelyn Lesueur.
One grocer says he's already slashed the use of plastic bags by about 40 per cent in just a year-and-a-half simply by asking customers if a bag is really needed.
"The cashiers always ask, 'do you want a bag, do you need a bag'? And a lot of people do end up changing their minds when they have one or two items. It's just trying to make people more aware," said Harvey Anderson with Wild Earth Foods.
The initiative will be officially announced at a news conference in Edmonton Wednesday morning.
With files from Scott Roberts
