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

  • Don walker
    signed 2015-12-08 16:39:55 +1100
    Plastic bags must be banned. Not only are they an environmental disaster they require to much of our non renewable resources to manufacture.
  • Laura Healy
    signed via 2015-12-08 16:35:35 +1100
  • Paul Rusje
    signed via 2015-12-08 15:54:10 +1100
  • Dr Barry Taranto
    signed 2015-12-08 15:39:34 +1100
  • Timana Hossack
    signed 2015-12-08 15:36:58 +1100
  • Carolynne Shakes
    signed 2015-12-08 15:18:23 +1100
  • Diane Whitehead
    signed 2015-12-08 15:18:20 +1100
    As a resident of the ACT, I confirm life after plastic bags is possible, and encourage others to make the same decision.
  • Aline Habesch
    signed 2015-12-08 15:04:50 +1100
  • Ranjit Prasad
    signed 2015-12-08 14:49:38 +1100
  • Ruth Gibbs
    signed 2015-12-08 14:38:54 +1100
    A ban on all plastic bags in WA!
  • Lynda Sanderson
    signed 2015-12-08 14:35:51 +1100
  • Ceridwen Dovey
    signed 2015-12-08 14:18:17 +1100
  • Katie Hull-Brown
    signed via 2015-12-08 14:05:51 +1100
  • Liz Hutson
    signed 2015-12-08 13:45:36 +1100
  • Carly Simmance
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-12-08 13:39:39 +1100
    I just signed the open letter calling on Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags.
  • Carly Simmance
    signed 2015-12-08 13:39:01 +1100
  • Luanne Hill
    signed 2015-12-08 13:33:22 +1100
  • Veronica O'Riordan
    signed 2015-12-08 13:26:40 +1100
    Plastic is killing our oceans. Please do something about this!
  • Sree Menon
    signed 2015-12-08 13:04:29 +1100
  • Peter Van Haeff
    signed 2015-12-08 12:51:55 +1100
  • Sylvia Ingram
    signed 2015-12-08 12:46:44 +1100
    People are just not responsible with plastic bags. always people, people, people who are the culprits. they need to be educated!!
  • Lenore Hodgkinson
    signed 2015-12-08 12:37:20 +1100
    been banned in the ACT and a good thing too.
  • Gael Robinson
    signed 2015-12-08 12:35:07 +1100
  • Nicholas Bryce
    signed 2015-12-08 12:30:17 +1100
  • Gail Hassall
    signed 2015-12-08 12:29:10 +1100
  • Brenda Rule
    signed 2015-12-08 12:26:00 +1100
    We managed without plastic bags before, why can’t we again. It will create jobs in the shopping bag business.
  • Liesha Hanekroot
    signed via 2015-12-08 12:19:53 +1100
  • Liz Denham
    signed 2015-12-08 12:17:29 +1100
  • Paul Casbolt
    signed 2015-12-08 12:13:33 +1100
    It’s time for a Australian Govt. National ban on single use plastic bags.
  • Frances Eliott
    signed 2015-12-08 12:12:28 +1100