A PLASTIC FREE SEA
Every day thousands of marine animals are injured or die as a result of plastic pollution in our oceans and waterways.
In New South Wales we treasure our beautiful beaches, coastal lakes and harbours, but more and more plastic pollution is clogging our marine environment and injuring and killing the marine life we love.
We can do more to clean up our precious natural environment and stop plastic pollution.
LET’S END PLASTIC POLLUTION
WHY? – Plastic chokes the ocean and marine life.
HOW? – Stop the problem before it starts. Arrest the flow of plastics out to sea and clean up plastic pollution
WHEN? – Now!
Moving towards a Plastic Free Sea
A Ban on Plastic Bags and other single use plastics
Nearly all marine life including half the world’s turtles and almost all sea birds have ingested plastic waste. This plastic waste includes shopping bags, and pieces of bottle tops, coffee cup lids and other packaging. Even biodegradable plastics just turn in to smaller pieces of plastic, releasing dangerous chemicals as they break apart. We must stop this problem at its source by educating the public about the impact of plastics and banning single use plastic products including shopping bags..
A Ban on Microbeads
Microbeads are the tiny plastic beads commonly found in household products such as facial scrubs and cleansers, toothpaste and laundry detergents. They never break down and contribute to the 34.9 billion pieces of micro plastic in Australia’s Waters. A voluntary ban, like the one the federal government wants, won’t be effective. We are fighting for a real ban on microbeads from cosmetics and household detergents.
A Container Deposit Scheme
A container deposit scheme like those in South Australia and the Northern Territory means people in NSW will get 10c back for every bottle they recycle. This will take the pressure off kerbside recycling, which local councils currently need to pay for, and also provide valuable income streams for community groups and individuals — as well as cutting down on the amount of plastic that ends up in our oceans.
The Greens want to protect our marine life and make it easier for people to live more sustainably by banning wasteful plastic items and building a world class container deposit system.-- Justin Field MP
The Benefits to New South Wales
Plastic pollution costs us all. Tourism, commercial and recreational fishing all rely on a healthy marine environment and abundant life. Local councils spend millions every year across NSW cleaning up plastic and other litter along our coastline. Stopping plastic pollution getting in to our waterways will reduce the costs on local rates. Keeping our beaches and coastal areas plastic free will protect this important economic resource we all love.
NSW’s coastline is magnificent and must be preserved for future generations to enjoy, along with the thousands of species threatened by plastic pollution both in the oceans and on land.
Reducing our plastic consumption and increasing recycling rates will also significantly lower our carbon emissions and will help to tackle the threat of climate change.
A healthy community is made up of a balance of sustainable environmental, economic and social values. A liveable NSW depends on a clean environment. Clear streets, waterways and parks mean happier communities and safer spaces for people to work and play. Healthy ecosystems support healthier people and help local industries thrive.
Sign the petition today.
I support the protection of our marine life by ending plastic pollution in our oceans.
I call on the NSW government to:
- Recognise the serious threat plastic pollution presents to the marine environment and coastal communities..
- Support measures to reduce plastic pollution such as a ban on plastic bags and other single use plastic products, a ban on microbeads, and a world leading container deposit scheme to catch plastic litter before it hits the ground.
- Ensure that action to prevent and clean up plastic pollution is a priority for NSW.