Sign The Open Letter: Ban Plastic Bags

1,543 ADD YOUR NAMES
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

  • Mari Granström
    signed 2018-02-13 04:22:54 +1100
  • Georgie Wilson
    signed 2017-12-11 07:08:03 +1100
    Georgie Wilson
  • Catherine McBride
    signed 2017-10-07 21:45:09 +1100
  • Carmen Terceiro
    signed 2017-06-24 18:11:53 +1000
    Please take decisive action to ban plastic bags. Countries including Ethiopia, Myanmar, Botswana have achieved this. Surely we can do this too.
  • CAssie Mercoulia
    signed 2017-06-22 17:13:44 +1000
  • Brooke Callahan
    signed 2017-06-20 16:59:29 +1000
  • Justin Murphy
    signed 2017-06-19 16:53:22 +1000
  • Shaun Wykes
    signed 2017-06-19 10:16:20 +1000
    We need strong, loop hole free legislation to get as much plastic out of our shops, and thereby ecosystems, as we can.
  • Cherie Williams
    signed via 2017-06-18 18:27:58 +1000
  • Cathy Gilmore
    signed via 2017-06-17 11:56:51 +1000
    Plastics are choking this planet and we can’t turn a blind eye anymore! Ban the Bag!! Ban Plastics!!!
  • Jane Johnson
    signed 2017-06-17 11:32:27 +1000
    I cannot believe Australia is so far behind other countries in the world where being given a plastic bag when you go shopping is unheard of.
  • Jenny Gooding
    signed via 2017-06-17 11:22:23 +1000
  • Irene T
    signed 2017-06-16 23:48:50 +1000
  • Enrico Pelleri
    signed 2017-06-16 22:11:16 +1000
  • Rolly Smith
    signed via 2017-06-16 22:07:02 +1000
    Ban the bag !!!
  • Danielle Bijen
    signed 2017-06-16 21:40:55 +1000
  • Tina Smith
    posted about this on Facebook 2017-06-16 21:11:51 +1000
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags.
  • Tina Smith
    signed 2017-06-16 21:10:55 +1000
    Planet Earth, our only home, is choking to death on plastics. Plastic pollution is completely out of control, poisoning & killing our world, our lands, our oceans, our wildlife & US! Please watch the film A PLASTIC OCEAN & for your children & grandchildrens sake, for humanity’s sake PLEASE BAN THE BAG!!!!
  • Jill Hamilton
    signed 2017-06-13 22:19:13 +1000
  • Clara McGinty
    signed 2017-06-13 15:42:14 +1000
  • Kristy Yeats
    signed 2017-06-12 21:13:18 +1000
  • Kate de Jude
    signed via 2017-06-11 07:12:53 +1000
    Not before time.
  • Sharon O'Farrell
    signed via 2017-06-10 21:05:20 +1000
    Signed
  • Michelle Jarden
    signed 2017-06-10 20:49:33 +1000
    We don’t have time to keep thinking about this…we must act NOW!!! Everyone clean up Australia!!! Keep Australia beautiful…please.
  • Andy Byrne
    signed 2017-05-31 07:06:11 +1000
  • Silje Gjestang
    signed 2017-05-24 18:19:31 +1000
    No more plastic, yes to a future for our children and our beautiful planet
  • Ann Laws
    signed 2017-05-24 12:38:25 +1000
  • Georgia Nester
    signed 2017-05-23 23:14:11 +1000
  • roza khamitova
    signed 2017-05-23 21:38:41 +1000
    ALL PLASTIC MUST BE BANNED NATIONWIDE.
  • Carl Hirst
    signed 2017-05-17 20:22:54 +1000
    BAN PLASTIC