Growing support for a ban on single-use plastic bags
17 August 2016
MEDIA RELEASE
Growing support for a ban on single-use plastic bags
The Lake Macquarie Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance has collected over 600 signatures supporting a ban on single-use plastic bags in NSW. We call on NSW Members of Parliament to follow Tasmania, the ACT, South Australia and the Northern Territory, and enact a ban on single-use plastic checkout bags.
It is estimated that more than 4,000,000,000 plastic checkout-style bags are used in Australia each year, with an estimated 50 million plastic bags ending up in our environment and damaging our ecosystems and wildlife. Steve Dewar, member of the Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group said, “Many of our 15 Sustainable Neighbourhood Groups across Lake Macquarie have reported the damage plastic bags are doing to our lake and ocean environment. This is a critical issue that we can fix.”
Sustainable Neighbourhood Groups have been working with Plastic Bag Free NSW to increase pressure on NSW representatives to enact a ban, and taking practical actions to reduce plastic pollution.
“A Container Deposit Scheme is starting in NSW in 2017. Now is the time to ban single use plastic bags and act on other plastic pollution.”
For more information visit www.sustainableneighbourhoods.org.au/plastic-bag-campaign.
Media contact: Steve Dewar
via [email protected]
Member, Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group
Board Member, Lake Macquarie Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance
MEDIA RELEASE
Growing support for a ban on single-use plastic bags
The Lake Macquarie Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance has collected over 600 signatures supporting a ban on single-use plastic bags in NSW. We call on NSW Members of Parliament to follow Tasmania, the ACT, South Australia and the Northern Territory, and enact a ban on single-use plastic checkout bags.
It is estimated that more than 4,000,000,000 plastic checkout-style bags are used in Australia each year, with an estimated 50 million plastic bags ending up in our environment and damaging our ecosystems and wildlife. Steve Dewar, member of the Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group said, “Many of our 15 Sustainable Neighbourhood Groups across Lake Macquarie have reported the damage plastic bags are doing to our lake and ocean environment. This is a critical issue that we can fix.”
Sustainable Neighbourhood Groups have been working with Plastic Bag Free NSW to increase pressure on NSW representatives to enact a ban, and taking practical actions to reduce plastic pollution.
- In Toronto and Redhead, Sustainable Neighbourhood volunteers have been identifying local businesses who are ‘Plastic Bag Free Champions’ and are taking steps to reduce or completely phase out the provision of free single use plastic bags to customers.
- The Redhead Sustainable Neighbourhood recently ran a community workshop to help each other make their own reusable bags.
- Various Sustainable Neighbourhood groups have collected over 1 tonne of litter from around Lake Macquarie since January 2015.
- The Sustainable Neighbourhood website includes a range of tips to help reduce your own plastic bag use.
“A Container Deposit Scheme is starting in NSW in 2017. Now is the time to ban single use plastic bags and act on other plastic pollution.”
For more information visit www.sustainableneighbourhoods.org.au/plastic-bag-campaign.
Media contact: Steve Dewar
via [email protected]
Member, Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group
Board Member, Lake Macquarie Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance
