A child from Illinois is petitioning for a plastic bag ban.

A 13-year-old student from Illinois, US is leading the fight against plastic bags in her local area.

Abby Goldberg, from Prairie Crossing Charter School helped to petition for a ban on plastic bags, which led to more than 170,000 signatures, The Lake County Journal reports.

However, despite managing to persuade Governor Pat Quinn to veto the Plastic Bag and Film Recycling Act, her fight isn't over.

The proposed law would have prohibited Illinois communities from enacting bans on plastic bags, yet it could be overturned in the Illinois fall veto session in November.

Miss Grayslake told the newspaper: "I'm still trying to get the word out," after she launched a campaign against local businesses' use of plastic bags for a school project.

She explained: "[My parents and I] were on our way to a restaurant and I counted 45 plastic bags in two miles," before adding that as her home is by the landfill site she sees how many discarded bags are thrown away.

The pupil then reached out her local village of Grayslake, and learned more about the proposed law, leading her to launch a petition and create a short video explaining how plastic bags can hurt wildlife.

She was then invited to Springfield to lobby against the industry-backed bill, where she met Governor Quinn.

"I'm just a 13-year-old girl and to know the governor heard and cared about my cause is great. No matter your age you can make a difference," she said.

The Plastic Bag and Film Recycling Act would increase the amount of plastic bags being recycled by businesses and councils, however would not see a blanket ban on the supply of these carrier bags.

By banning plastic bags in grocery stores and other retailers, lobbyists hope to reduce the reliance on such items, instead encouraging consumers to use multiple-use shopping bags or paper bags.