Dear Minister,
Environment ministers have been discussing the issue of removing plastic bags from the litter stream and...
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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.
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Within weeks, the NSW Government is going to vote on ‘cash for cans bottle’ recycling.
Coca Cola (Amitil), already named as one of the multinationals not paying its fair share of tax, is lobbying madly against it.
As you know, we live in 15 Loftus Ave, and every Sunday afternoon when putting out our garbage for the Monday collection, I or my neighbour, cross the road and clean up the litter thrown out by Southbound drivers who stop next to the railway line to eat/drink there. 3 in every 4 cans is a Coke can. Food wrappers are round 50% Maccas.
As member for this beautiful Electorate, you are familiar with the jewel of the RoyaL Naional Park. After the fires of January 1994, the roadside rubbish in the RNP that was exposed was mainly cans and some bottles. Happily wrappers were burnt. Even plastics melted and burnt in the holocaust, so there was some good side effects to that fire. But 21 years later, go and look at the RNP road between the Bundeena turn off and Garie Beach turn off. I guess that section gets trashed as, being straight, litterers can throw stuff out more safely than when driving on the curves.
You’re too young to remember when kids used to supplement pocket money collecting bottles. I have no doubt the same would happen again if we can get this Legislation passed. Have you been to South Australia ?. Their roadsides a clean !. Takes a while to realise it, but it comes home to you when you cross back over the border to NSW and Victoria.
So what is your Government going to do ?. Cave in for the sake of tainted election campaign funds, or strike a real blow for our beautiful country.
It won’t hurt Coca Cola – they will no doubt work it as a tax deduction.
Where do you personally stand on this issue Lee ?.
John Conolly. 11.12.15