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

  • Linda Gatfield
    signed via 2015-12-09 21:46:06 +1100
  • Dylan Wilson
    signed 2015-12-09 21:08:15 +1100
  • Rhyan Andrews
    signed 2015-12-09 17:50:56 +1100
    We can manage without plastic bags. Let’s get on with it banning them or at least putting a price on them so people think twice and don’t discard them inappropriately.
  • Andrea Elbe
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-12-09 15:22:58 +1100
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags.
  • Andrea Elbe
    signed via 2015-12-09 15:22:31 +1100
    Haven’t used one bag in 6 months. At least 250 less have been made to destroy!!!
  • Mary Lane
    signed 2015-12-09 15:20:19 +1100
  • Greg Newall
    signed 2015-12-09 14:55:51 +1100
  • Maggie McInnes
    signed 2015-12-09 13:40:05 +1100
    Most of these bags are obtained from oil, coal or other undesirable limited sources. Find something that will work which won’t damage the environment either way!
  • Mario Baghos
    signed via 2015-12-09 12:01:43 +1100
  • Maureen O'Reilly
    signed 2015-12-09 11:37:21 +1100
  • Victoria Baghos
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-12-09 10:11:47 +1100
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags.
  • Victoria Baghos
    signed 2015-12-09 10:11:20 +1100
  • Magda Dantas
    signed via 2015-12-09 07:16:41 +1100
    It’s time to take action!
  • Gael Mackenzie
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-12-09 06:49:39 +1100
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags.
  • Gael Mackenzie
    signed 2015-12-09 06:48:55 +1100
    NSW is so backward! In SA these bags have been illegal for years! Bring in the bottle/can deposit too! You can see the difference as soon as you cross the border!
  • Daniel Benni
    signed 2015-12-09 06:33:20 +1100
  • Dato Mdinaradze
    signed 2015-12-09 06:11:12 +1100
  • Kerry Woods
    signed 2015-12-09 05:57:34 +1100
  • Wendy Faulkner
    signed 2015-12-08 23:32:41 +1100
    people WILL use re-usable bags if they are not given the option, they will grumble about it but will adjust. We really have to be taking plastic pollution seriously and this is a good start. Please ban plastic bags
  • Tina Sheil
    signed 2015-12-08 23:16:44 +1100
    Please take action now. It is in your hands.
  • Catherine Sharpe
    signed 2015-12-08 22:50:53 +1100
    Such a relatively easy solution with such great benefits! Please PLEASE consider!!!
  • Anne-Marie Keightley
    signed 2015-12-08 22:49:35 +1100
    We have been polluting too long, we cannot go on like this.
  • Rachel Cassidy
    signed 2015-12-08 22:46:04 +1100
    Single use plastic bags are a vile insult, physically and philosophically to the natural world. They seem to say: F#%k you nature and wildlife, I am human and I will do what I please. Ban them. Now.
  • Donna Chapman
    signed 2015-12-08 22:43:19 +1100
  • Amber Johnston
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-12-08 22:38:58 +1100
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags.
  • Amber Johnston
    signed 2015-12-08 22:38:24 +1100
    Please help us help our beautiful natural world. It doesn’t deserve to be full of horrid plastic bags.
  • Maree Aldwinckle
    signed 2015-12-08 22:29:51 +1100
    Just bloody do it!
  • Anna Denham
    signed 2015-12-08 22:08:27 +1100
  • Jennifer Sanderson
    signed 2015-12-08 21:55:05 +1100
  • Basil Stukacz
    signed 2015-12-08 21:53:47 +1100