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

  • Jill Green
    @JillGree tweeted link to this page. 2015-12-11 11:31:38 +1100
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags. http://www.boomerangalliance.org.au/banplasticbags?recruiter_id=23763
  • Sue Rendell
    signed 2015-12-11 11:31:38 +1100
  • Jill Green
    signed 2015-12-11 11:31:12 +1100
    Plastic bags are causing major damage to marine life. Make people think about how wasteful they are and make them use recyclable bags.
  • Alex Dodds
    signed 2015-12-11 11:30:50 +1100
  • Krista Verlis
    signed 2015-12-11 11:30:43 +1100
  • Zlatko Manovski
    signed 2015-12-11 11:30:38 +1100
    Comments (optional)
  • Joyce Sharp
    signed 2015-12-11 11:30:31 +1100
  • Ginette Priestley
    signed 2015-12-11 11:30:01 +1100
    There is no requirement for plastic bags. It is very easy to get in the habit of carrying one’s own bags and stop this awful pollution. If all stores were the same as Aldi in their plastic bag policy we would have a much cleaner environment.
  • Peter Hunt
    signed 2015-12-11 11:29:34 +1100
  • Daniel Audsley
    signed 2015-12-11 11:28:20 +1100
  • Curly Hart
    signed 2015-12-11 11:27:37 +1100
  • Bryonie Hills
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-12-11 11:27:28 +1100
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags.
  • Bryonie Hills
    signed 2015-12-11 11:27:10 +1100
  • Jasmyn Ellis
    signed 2015-12-11 11:26:43 +1100
    Its years past the time that plastic should be deceased.
  • Graham Wand
    signed 2015-12-11 11:26:33 +1100
    Sooner the better.
  • Gary Janke
    signed 2015-12-11 11:25:58 +1100
  • Barbara Carseldine
    signed 2015-12-11 11:25:39 +1100
  • Janet Young
    signed 2015-12-11 11:24:43 +1100
  • Maree Williamson
    signed 2015-12-11 11:24:20 +1100
  • Alix Jackson
    signed 2015-12-11 11:23:17 +1100
  • Elizabeth Jackson
    signed 2015-12-11 11:23:10 +1100
  • Sean Corrigan
    signed 2015-12-11 11:23:09 +1100
  • Vimoksalehi Lukoschek
    signed 2015-12-11 11:22:35 +1100
    Dear Ministers

    This is a no-brainer. Banning single use plastic bags will reduce unsightly litter in the streets, reduce land fill and minimise the risk of injury and death to marine animals from plastic litter in the ocean.


    I urge you to ban single use plastic bags.


    Vimoksalehi
  • Lesley Haine
    signed 2015-12-11 11:22:32 +1100
    I am an active traveller in Australia and while walking, kayaking and biking, I see the true problem of litter on our roadsides and in our rivers and beaches. Plastic. In many forms. Please support our efforts to remove these items from the environment and stop the flow of more to replace the ones we pick up.
  • Elizabeth Frayne
    signed 2015-12-11 11:22:30 +1100
    Let’s do it! Ban single-use plastic bags!
  • Scott Wilson
    signed 2015-12-11 11:22:20 +1100
  • Karen Joynes
    signed 2015-12-11 11:21:10 +1100
    Include a TOTAL ban on the release of balloons which end up as litter and harm wildlife.
  • Michael Asbridge
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-12-11 11:20:36 +1100
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags.
  • Anne Thompson
    signed 2015-12-11 11:20:34 +1100
  • Michael Asbridge
    signed 2015-12-11 11:19:52 +1100
    Please for the sake of our environment and wildlife put a stop to this wasteful practice or at the very least charge a fee for using these single use bags and make sure they are fully biodegradable and encourage more recycling and do it now!