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

  • Sean Johnson
    signed 2015-12-21 21:43:39 +1100
    I feel strongly that plastic bags should be banned. They are a hazard in the environment and it is so easy to slip into using them unnecessarily. If they were banned people would soon adapt to using more sustainable bags.
  • Aminah Kazak
    signed 2015-12-20 08:48:25 +1100
  • Natasha Triffon
    signed 2015-12-19 19:47:35 +1100
    For the sake of our future on this beautiful planet!
  • pip perry
    signed 2015-12-19 15:42:09 +1100
    Plastic bags don’t belong in our environment.
  • Stevie Bee
    signed 2015-12-18 23:02:05 +1100
  • Bev Maunsell
    signed 2015-12-18 20:13:00 +1100
    How hard can it be to stop exporting our

    rubbish to the poor of Asia?
  • Cath Blakey
    signed 2015-12-18 14:32:07 +1100
    I’m a food retail business owner and I support this change.
  • Nathan Weir
    signed 2015-12-18 06:55:16 +1100
  • Philip Macken
    signed 2015-12-17 23:07:47 +1100
    The Environment and our children’s future must trump short term convenience. Single use plastic bags and other single use plastic items must be discouraged!
  • Anthony Krithinakis
    signed 2015-12-17 22:13:14 +1100
  • Angela Armstrong
    signed 2015-12-17 15:05:02 +1100
    Please ban across Australia.
  • Michael Renshaw
    signed 2015-12-17 14:07:16 +1100
  • Laura Csanyi
    signed 2015-12-17 08:25:27 +1100
  • Kane McDonald
    signed via 2015-12-17 02:52:14 +1100
  • Shannan Nettleship
    signed 2015-12-17 01:08:04 +1100
  • Nadia Rees
    signed 2015-12-16 23:02:01 +1100
  • Ben Woods
    signed via 2015-12-16 20:26:51 +1100
  • Daynah Andersen
    signed 2015-12-16 20:12:38 +1100
  • Mark Marusic
    signed 2015-12-16 18:29:09 +1100
  • Geraldine Kirby
    signed 2015-12-16 17:08:57 +1100
    There is too much plastic in the environment and it is having a detrimental effect on Australia’s native wildlife. The Government needs to act as soon as possible to ensure all Australians help to reduce the amount of plastic in the environment and make the world a better place for all creatures and humans.
  • Stephanie Scott
    signed 2015-12-16 10:37:24 +1100
  • Linda Metz
    signed 2015-12-16 09:49:37 +1100
    it’s an easy way to get a good outcome fast-the people are ready!
  • Birgit Graefner
    signed 2015-12-16 07:17:26 +1100
    This step is DECADES OVERDUE !!!!
  • George Mercier
    signed 2015-12-15 22:46:41 +1100
  • Malcolm Sinclair
    signed 2015-12-15 22:10:05 +1100
    Plastic bags have become a scourge.
  • Mark Taylor
    signed 2015-12-15 20:48:35 +1100
  • Jennie Keough
    signed via 2015-12-15 18:37:33 +1100
  • Sally Colechin
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-12-15 17:23:27 +1100
    I just signed-calling on all Environment Ministers to ban single use plastic bags. T'aren't necessary, + are too harmful
  • Liz Lamicela
    signed 2015-12-15 16:31:14 +1100
  • Sally Colechin
    signed 2015-12-15 15:29:58 +1100
    We need to ban plastic bags, as well as other plastics that our sea creatures are harmed by. They aren’t necessary, if we are all mindful with our shopping and our rubbish disposal. In NSW we need to follow Tasmania, The ACT, Northern Territory + South Australia’s lead in this.