Sign The Open Letter: Ban Plastic Bags

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GOAL: 2,000

Dear Minister,

Environment ministers have been discussing the issue of removing plastic bags from the litter stream and...

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Dear Minister,

Environment ministers have been discussing the issue of removing plastic bags from the litter stream and marine environment for long enough.

Every Australian wants our stunning rivers, oceans and waterways to have a clean and healthy future. Plastic pollution infests waterways, clogging them with plastic bags, packaging and microbeads.  In Australia, the CSIRO Marine Debris Report 2014 estimated there are over 124 billion individual pieces of visible plastic littering the Australian coastline.

The tripartisan 2016 Senate Inquiry into Marine Plastic Pollution urged Australian state and federal governments to ban plastic bags and microbeads as a matter of urgency.

Tasmania, the ACT, the Northern Territory and South Australia have already banned single use plastic bags and can improve their legislation to include 'so-called biodegradable' bags which are just as big a problem in the marine environment as conventional plastic bags.

We are calling on Environment Ministers in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia to catch up and take immediate action by banning single use plastic bags (including so-called biodegradable bags). 

Plastic pollution is lethal. We need strong action now.

 

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Will you sign?


In July 2017 Environment Ministers are meeting to discuss what to do about plastic bags.

Tasmania, the ACT, The Northern Territory and South Australia have already banned single use plastic bags and Queensland is introducing a ban in July 2018.

We're making sure when they meet that the NSW, Victorian and WA Ministers know there is huge community support for taking action on plastic bags. We've joined with 49 community and environment groups, representing thousands of members, to write an open letter demanding greater action. Add your name to the open letter today to let the ministers know you support a ban on plastic bags.  

There is increasing evidence that even though a small percentage of bags are littered and then broken up into smaller and smaller pieces – they have a devastating impact on the environment. This includes so called ‘biodegradable’ bags, which are just as dangerous in the marine environment.

With the CSIRO Marine Debris Report 2014 estimating there are over 124 billion individual pieces of visible plastic littering the Australian coastline – and a large legacy of plastic from previous years becoming microplastic – action needs to be taken on multiple fronts.

Plastic pollution is a major threat to wildlife. Globally it is estimated that 1 million sea birds and over 100,000 mammals die every year as a result of plastic ingestion or entanglement. Of great concern are the secondary microplastics derived from broken up bags and bottles.

We estimate that some 180 million bags enter the Australian environment every year.

Read the full letter and our policy recommendations here

Thanks to our partners who joined the open letter. 


Showing 1710 reactions

  • Kimberly Maute
    signed 2015-12-13 20:09:05 +1100
  • Jenny Miles
    signed 2015-12-13 20:04:22 +1100
  • Lawrence Agar
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-12-13 19:41:05 +1100
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags.
  • Lawrence Agar
    signed via 2015-12-13 19:40:41 +1100
  • Jenn Clark
    signed 2015-12-13 19:05:02 +1100
  • Danielle Easton
    signed 2015-12-13 18:54:06 +1100
  • Dan Vieritz
    signed 2015-12-13 18:18:58 +1100
  • Rebecca Prince-Ruiz
    signed 2015-12-13 18:02:54 +1100
    Please let’s take the initiative on this important issue. Latest global research shows seabirds most threatened by plastic pollution are off Australia’s east coast.
  • Lena Bodin
    signed 2015-12-13 17:58:47 +1100
  • colleen douglas
    signed 2015-12-13 17:13:26 +1100
    Also helium balloons
  • Shane O'Keefe
    signed 2015-12-13 17:10:44 +1100
  • Angelina Choi
    signed 2015-12-13 17:10:26 +1100
  • Mathew Setter
    signed 2015-12-13 16:42:48 +1100
  • Ella Boyen
    signed via 2015-12-13 16:29:11 +1100
  • Lesley Agar
    signed 2015-12-13 16:13:49 +1100
  • Marilyn hannah Dawes
    signed 2015-12-13 15:52:07 +1100
    Be organised take own bags for shopping please stop producing this disaster for our wildlife & ocean life
  • Erika van den Hengel
    signed 2015-12-13 15:44:51 +1100
    In Holland they charge customers for plastic bags for over 50 years, that will make people bring bags
  • Tom Lumley
    signed 2015-12-13 15:39:11 +1100
    The potential benefits for wildlife, including the fish we live on, as well as the environment more broadly, are enormous.
  • Nicole Walsh
    signed 2015-12-13 15:21:40 +1100
    The sooner we get rid of plastic bags the better, just need to think of a way to pick up dog poo!
  • Roger Seccombe
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-12-13 15:06:10 +1100
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags.
  • Roger Seccombe
    signed 2015-12-13 15:05:39 +1100
    PLastic bags MUST be stopped from becoming part of litter!
  • Amy Mickelberg
    signed 2015-12-13 14:47:49 +1100
  • David Tattersall
    signed 2015-12-13 14:33:34 +1100
  • Amie Josephs
    signed 2015-12-13 14:33:07 +1100
  • Heather Hill
    signed 2015-12-13 14:19:45 +1100
  • Patricia Kahler
    signed via 2015-12-13 14:08:20 +1100
  • Gemma Ollenburg
    signed 2015-12-13 14:02:43 +1100
    Ban the bag!!! Cmon QLD
  • Yvonne Tudela
    signed via 2015-12-13 14:01:49 +1100
  • Belinda Beh
    signed 2015-12-13 13:52:38 +1100
    A small island of Penang, Malaysia had a no – plastic bag policy implemented some years ago. It has been working well. The community knows that it is a good practice & soon it becomes habitual to bring along the shopping bags for shopping. Shopping at Aldi & Cosco people bring their own shopping bags so whats the difference shopping at Woollies & Coles?

    We should all learn to to the right thing for the good of the environment.

    Thank you


    Belinda
  • Jenni Garbode
    signed 2015-12-13 13:48:59 +1100