It is estimated 4 billion plastic bags are used in Australia each year.
Only 5% of these bags are recycled, 20% are reused (such as for bin liners) and the majority, around 75%, is sent directly to landfill. These light-weight bags are susceptible to being blown from bins or garbage trucks during transport and from landfill often ending up in waterways and eventually the ocean - about 50 million each year end up in the environment in Australia.
South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory already have legislation in place to reduce the distribution of plastic bags and it's time NSW got on board.
The Greens are committed to bringing legislation to the NSW Parliament this year to do just that - help build the community campaign to build support. To find out more about the Greens' plans check out the Ban the Bag Campaign Page.
To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales in Parliament assembled:
This Petition of certain citizens of New South Wales brings to the attention of the House that:
- Australians use around 4 billion lightweight plastic bags each year.
- About 50 million of these bags end up in the environment, many in rivers and the ocean.
- Tens of thousands of marine animals are injured or killed each year from being caught in or ingesting plastic from lightweight bags.
- South Australia, Tasmania the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory already have laws in place restricting the distribution of single use lightweight plastic bags from retail outlets.
The undersigned petitioners ask the Legislative Assembly to call on the NSW Government to Ban the Bag in NSW by:
Introducing legislation to ban the distribution of lightweight single-use plastic bags at retail outlets in NSW.
