The release of the Queensland Government’s Discussion Paper on a Container Refund Scheme (Cash for Containers) on February 18th, 2017 keeps the state on track to introduce the scheme in July 2018.

The consultation period ended on March 20th, and we would like to thank the 839 people who made submissions through our website. The government takes these very seriously and the information provided will help to design the scheme and influence how it will be implemented.

>> For further information on the scheme in Queensland, click here

>> To read our submission on the discussion paper, click here

>> To read our media release, click here

We are welcoming the change to the start date of the NSW Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) to the 1st of December 2017 as good policy and congratulated the government on listening to the many requests for more time to rollout a better serviced scheme.

The Queensland State Government has announced a plan to ban on lightweight, single-use plastics bags by 2018, and this includes degradable and biodegradable bags, which are no better for the environment than standard plastic bags.

A public discussion paper was released late 2016, with a deadline of 27th February 2017. The response from the public was overwhelming, with the government receiving over 26000 submissions, sending a clear message that the people want action on plastic bags.

Not only that, but the submissions also made it very clear that plastic bags are just the start, and further needs to be done to reduce plastic litter. We are told by government insiders that this is being taken very seriously.

Our heartfelt thank you to everyone who made a submission!

>>To read our submission on the discussion paper, click here

>>For further information on plastic bags, click here

2016 was a successful year! Wins on container deposits and microbeads; movement on single use plastic bags; and release of our Marine Plastic Pollution Plan. Working with our 45 allies and thousands of supporters. Check out our Report on 2016 and plans for 2017.

Threat Abatement Plan (TAP) - now the real work begins...

 Last week we held two event nights at Melbourne and Brisbane where we launched our draft Threat Abatement Plan to reduce 70% of Australia's plastic pollution entering the ocean by 2020. The night's were a combination of in-depth policy content by Dave West who has championed the campaign, Toby Hutchinson our Queensland Manager, Jeff Angel and guest speakers Chris Wilcox a research scientist with CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Susie Crick, Winter Vincent and Pacha Light from the Surfrider Foundation who spoke about the urgent need to for action to protect our oceans.

Enregistrer

Fantastic news today! The Queensland Government has just announced the introduction of a ban on single use, lightweight plastic bags. This is a significant step forward in reducing plastic litter and its impact upon native and marine wildlife. Plastic bags in particular are a problem for birds and marine animals that often mistake these for food or get entangled in them. They also break up into microplastics that enter the marine food chain and onto our dinner plates.

The proposed Queensland ban will follow similar bans already in place in South Australia, ACT, Northern Territory and Tasmania but Queensland has taken it a step further with inclusion of so-called degradable and biodegradable plastic bags in the ban. These also break up into dangerous microplastics that enter the food chain.

We call on NSW and Victoria to join in – already well-over one billion bags have been littered in the last 10 years through their inaction.  NSW is the worst laggard.

Toby Hutcheon, Queensland Manager

& Jeff Angel, Director

Podcast:

Dave West explains how planning for plastic can drastically reduce the amount of litter in high density locations entering the marine environment.

Together we could get a ban on single-use plastic bags along the Australian's east coast!

With your help, the plastic bag ban is on the agenda of the next Environment Minister meeting on 25 November but we need to keep up the pressure to make sure they make the right decision.  Yesterday we sent a demand to the ministers to finally resolve this urgent issue, from 50 environment and community groups representing hundreds of communities from around Australia.

We're making as much noise as we can: sending thousands of letters to the environment ministers, organising stalls at community event across the states, keeping the issue in the media, releasing plastic bags monsters in Sydney and delivering tote bags to the members of the NSW cabinet.

Please help us put pressure on them. Together we could save countless turtles, whales, birds and other marine life from harm.

> NSW Environment Minister Mark Speakman ([email protected] or (02) 8574 6390

> Queensland Environment Minister, Steven Miles ([email protected]) or (07) 3719 7330

> Victorian Environment Minister, Lily D'ambrosio (lily.d'[email protected]) or (03) 8392 2100

You can also make a donation for the plastic bag push here.

We believe succes in just around the corner.

Jeff Angel, Convenor and Director