Sign The Open Letter: Ban Plastic Bags

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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

  • Arlet Anastasia
    signed 2015-12-11 11:53:12 +1100
  • Jenny Cabanayan
    signed 2015-12-11 11:52:14 +1100
  • Craig Stokoe
    signed 2015-12-11 11:52:02 +1100
  • Liz Wise-Miller
    signed 2015-12-11 11:51:38 +1100
  • Rupert Veitch
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-12-11 11:51:37 +1100
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags.
  • Sheena Worrall
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-12-11 11:51:05 +1100
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags.
  • Linda Avramides
    signed 2015-12-11 11:50:47 +1100
  • Sheena Worrall
    signed 2015-12-11 11:49:13 +1100
    Scotland’s plastic bag ban saved 650 million bags in its first year. I’m sick of seeing how many marine animals and birds die each year from swallowing plastic bags and objects. Plastics are devastating marine environments. We must stop this now.
  • Gary McGlynn
    signed 2015-12-11 11:49:11 +1100
  • Alan Hayward
    signed 2015-12-11 11:49:05 +1100
  • Lucienne Noontil
    signed 2015-12-11 11:48:03 +1100
    We know there are alternatives. Help our wildlife and environment now!
  • Cathryn Audley
    signed 2015-12-11 11:46:54 +1100
    Comments (optional)
  • Anthony Fee
    signed 2015-12-11 11:46:17 +1100
  • Cathryn Audley
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-12-11 11:45:15 +1100
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags.
  • Michael Cooper
    signed 2015-12-11 11:44:59 +1100
    This is so crucial for today, tomorrow and future generations. Please ban all plastic shopping bags NOW! Thank you.
  • Michele Ferguson
    signed 2015-12-11 11:44:23 +1100
  • john foster
    signed 2015-12-11 11:44:19 +1100
  • Caitlin Findley
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-12-11 11:43:54 +1100
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags.
  • Caitlin Findley
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-12-11 11:43:50 +1100
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags.
  • David O’Meara
    signed 2015-12-11 11:43:30 +1100
  • Caitlin Findley
    signed 2015-12-11 11:42:39 +1100
    Banning the bag is the best way to get the thoughts flowing in ‘everyday’ people who do not usually think about waste minimisation, sustainability and needless consumption.
  • Jeorge Chambers
    signed 2015-12-11 11:41:49 +1100
  • Bevan Pugh
    signed 2015-12-11 11:41:49 +1100
  • Christopher Lotinga
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-12-11 11:40:22 +1100
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags.
  • Christopher Lotinga
    signed 2015-12-11 11:40:03 +1100
  • John Cadden
    signed 2015-12-11 11:39:59 +1100
    This is so self evident.
  • Harry Creamer
    signed 2015-12-11 11:39:17 +1100
    Ministers – it’s time to act. Sign on to a new way of doing things, doing better. Get with the national mood as voiced by the PM – innovate with ‘retail’ waste management!
  • Josephine Liberti
    signed 2015-12-11 11:38:57 +1100
  • Anthony Coward
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-12-11 11:38:56 +1100
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags.
  • Ryan Williams
    signed 2015-12-11 11:38:10 +1100
    Ban all plastic bags in Australia.