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 Le Doeuff
    signed 2015-12-08 21:46:43 +1100
    As I take my dog for a walk, I collect dozens of plastic bags, blowing around the streets, caught up in trees, bushes, and drains. Tragic!!
  • Linda Houghton
    signed 2015-12-08 21:25:12 +1100
  • Sarah Nolan
    signed 2015-12-08 21:00:58 +1100
  • Lisa Reily
    signed 2015-12-08 20:52:51 +1100
  • Diana Nairn
    signed 2015-12-08 20:40:51 +1100
    I feel that plastic bags should be banned.
  • Suzana Mihajlovic
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-12-08 20:31:01 +1100
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags.
  • Suzana Mihajlovic
    signed 2015-12-08 20:30:31 +1100
  • william bryant
    signed 2015-12-08 20:30:20 +1100
  • Laura Marion
    signed 2015-12-08 20:18:48 +1100
  • Diane Gilbert
    signed 2015-12-08 20:08:29 +1100
    There are other ways.
  • Colin Todd
    signed via 2015-12-08 20:02:53 +1100
    The animals of the deep need our help here.
  • Joelene Lyons
    signed 2015-12-08 19:53:51 +1100
    All plastic bags should be banned. We lived without them once and we can do it again.
  • Suzanne meese
    signed 2015-12-08 19:53:10 +1100
  • mike devereux
    signed 2015-12-08 19:44:15 +1100
    save our tourist attractions
  • Ivan ostrun
    followed this page 2015-12-08 19:33:02 +1100
  • Ivan ostrun
    signed 2015-12-08 19:32:12 +1100
  • Kylie Flament
    signed via 2015-12-08 19:22:25 +1100
  • Sue McCracken
    signed 2015-12-08 19:14:24 +1100
  • Don Randell
    signed 2015-12-08 17:43:41 +1100
    It works in the other states, as have lived and traveled in all of them..Our wildlife is under threat, so just DO it !!
  • Kirra Williams
    signed 2015-12-08 17:36:40 +1100
  • Ida Aalvik
    signed 2015-12-08 17:35:15 +1100
  • brian farrell
    signed 2015-12-08 17:31:24 +1100
  • melinda butcher
    signed 2015-12-08 17:22:13 +1100
  • Frank Lobach
    signed 2015-12-08 17:19:35 +1100
    Why is there no deposit charged to encourage shoppers to change to better carry bags?The same goes for bottles, when other states can put a deposit on bottles,why are we always so spineless about doing anyuthing that might upset a few people,but would be essential to a clean environment?
  • Roberta Turpin
    signed 2015-12-08 17:18:26 +1100
  • Doreen Ball
    signed via 2015-12-08 17:08:21 +1100
  • Robert Evans
    signed 2015-12-08 16:54:47 +1100
    this should create jobs and clean up Australia
  • Tim Butcher
    signed 2015-12-08 16:51:33 +1100
  • Julie Brand
    signed 2015-12-08 16:46:16 +1100
  • Jenifer Fowler
    signed via 2015-12-08 16:42:24 +1100
    We lived without plastic bags once we can easily do it again