Help us encourage politicians to beat plastic pollution and phase out the 10 worst single-use plastics in your state or territory!
Our country’s beautiful beaches and picturesque coastlines are threatened by an increasingly urgent waste crisis that we need to address now.
From single-use coffee cups to takeaway containers, we’ve all had to use a little more plastic over the last few months to keep us safe during the global health crisis. But as restrictions start to ease and we get back to a little normality, we all need to relook at our consumption habits and ways we can break free from unnecessary plastic use in a safe way.
On average, Australians use 130 kg of plastic per person each year. Only 9% of that's recycled. More frightening still, up to 130,000 tonnes of plastic will find its way into our waterways and into the ocean.
Once in the ocean, it endangers our marine wildlife. Studies have also shown that it has begun to enter the food chain and end up on our plates.
Plastic is an incredibly versatile material, made to be strong and durable. Unfortunately, most plastics are made to be used once before being discarded.
They’re convenient for a few minutes, but often end up in landfills, by the sides of roads, as litter in parks and floating in our oceans for hundreds of years before breaking down into microplastics.
The truth is, plastic is everywhere and it doesn’t disappear.
But together, we can fix this urgent waste crisis now.
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Here’s what we’re asking for:
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Australian Capital Territory
We commend the Australian Capital Territory’s commitment to phase out a range of single-use plastic items. As part of ACT’s upcoming legislation and initiative on this issue, we’re calling on the Environment Minister to tackle the remaining problematic plastics ending up in our environment.
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New South Wales
We commend New South Wales’ recent commitment to ban plastic bags and for consulting on further action to address single-use plastics in the state. As part of their consultation, we’re calling on the Environment Minister to take action on the most problematic plastics ending up in our environment.
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Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is currently lagging behind the rest of Australia on tackling the most commonly found plastic litter polluting the territory. We’re calling on the Environment Minister to take action on the most problematic plastics ending up in our environment.
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Queensland
We commend Queensland’s commitment to phase out a range of single-use plastic items. As part of Queensland’s upcoming legislation and initiative on this issue, we’re calling on the Environment Minister to tackle the remaining problematic plastics ending up in our environment.
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South Australia
We commend South Australia on its recently introduced legislation to phase out a range of single-use plastic items. South Australia has been a champion for action on plastic pollution in Australia and we support further action to ensure the state continues to be a leader on this issue.
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Western Australia
We commend Western Australia for consulting on ways the state can address plastics. This is a unique opportunity for WA to be a leader in managing and preventing plastic pollution in Australia and we are calling on the state to use this opportunity to act on the most problematic plastic.
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Victoria
Victoria is currently lagging behind the rest of Australia on tackling the most commonly found plastic litter polluting the state. We commend Victoria’s recent commitment to implement a container deposit scheme but there is more to do to tackle the most commonly found plastic items polluting the state.
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Tasmania
Tasmania is currently lagging behind the rest of Australia on tackling the most commonly found plastic litter polluting the state. We’re calling on the Environment Minister to take action on the most problematic plastics ending up in our environment.