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

  • Hayley Devlin
    signed via 2016-11-15 23:59:15 +1100
  • Erin Cairns
    posted about this on Facebook 2016-11-15 17:53:36 +1100
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags.
  • Erin Cairns
    signed via 2016-11-15 17:53:14 +1100
  • Marta Tapia
    signed 2016-11-15 17:45:54 +1100
    Marta Tapia
  • Kobe Benton
    signed 2016-11-15 14:16:21 +1100
    Please ban plastic bags which are causing such an irreversible effect on our environment. It would make such a huge difference having these toxic materials removed and there is such an easy solution to just use reusable bags if people were urged and they had no choice. We need to do this now before it is too late- ban the bags and save our planet for our kids and future generations.
  • Kirra Kae Diconza
    signed 2016-11-15 14:13:35 +1100
  • Maryanne Hargreaves
    signed via 2016-11-15 13:24:01 +1100
    I support the banning of plastic bags
  • Eliza Bartram
    signed 2016-11-15 12:11:01 +1100
  • Tanya Colwell
    posted about this on Facebook 2016-11-15 11:08:34 +1100
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags.
  • Tanya Colwell
    signed via 2016-11-15 11:08:11 +1100
  • Sharon Brooks
    posted about this on Facebook 2016-11-15 10:15:29 +1100
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags.
  • Sharon Brooks
    signed via 2016-11-15 10:15:04 +1100
  • Simone Fetherstonhaugh
    signed via 2016-11-15 06:14:05 +1100
    Time to make individuals responsible for their short time renting space in earth !
  • Michelle Blewitt
    posted about this on Facebook 2016-11-15 06:08:18 +1100
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags.
  • Michelle Blewitt
    signed 2016-11-15 06:07:43 +1100
    If other States can do it, then so can we!
  • Christopher Moore
    signed via 2016-11-02 16:27:42 +1100
  • Robert Smith
    signed 2016-11-01 16:53:15 +1100
    I’ve been using canvas bags for years ! Plastics are a pest
  • Susan Turner
    signed 2016-11-01 16:45:28 +1100
    Hi my name is Susan Turner I’m currently a National finalist for Mrs Earth Australia.

    My platform is to support community awareness into programs to support the unusefull means of distribution of dangerous plastics that have an districtive affect on our marine life in our oceans.

    It has been bought to my attention that the pacific has a disgraceful name known as the great pacific garbage patch.

    I am signing this partition on behalf of our community to help clean up our water ways.

    Sadly to date many marine animal suffer at the hands of those who abuse the system.

    Please support our cause.

    Once it’s gone it’s gone no turning back.

    Help save our environment.
  • Maeve Dullaghan
    signed via 2016-10-09 19:18:11 +1100
  • Cindy Twells
    signed 2016-09-03 16:35:53 +1000
  • Priscilla Davies
    @priscillad tweeted link to this page. 2016-08-15 20:56:03 +1000
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags. http://www.boomerangalliance.org.au/banplasticbags?recruiter_id=47841
  • Priscilla Davies
    signed 2016-08-15 20:53:31 +1000
  • Melissa Aldenhoven
    signed 2016-08-15 17:20:00 +1000
    Plastics contain too many toxins that find their way up the food chain. We are poisoning ourselves.
  • sarah rickard
    signed 2016-08-15 11:00:56 +1000
    Why continue to watch plastic destroy or marine ecology, just take action now and ban single use plastic bags. The ban is working in so many other countries and our own neighbouring states. All the work has been done for you, you just need to make it happen.
  • John Wright
    signed 2016-07-31 19:46:16 +1000
  • Siti Hanisah Abdul Razad
    signed 2016-07-27 22:48:24 +1000
  • Katherine Faulkner
    signed 2016-07-27 22:10:55 +1000
    Ban the bag!
  • Fiona Smethurst
    signed 2016-07-15 12:47:10 +1000
  • Niina Kautto
    signed 2016-07-01 15:43:49 +1000
  • Samantha Ferrier
    signed 2016-07-01 13:57:56 +1000