Milton’s Greens MP, Justin Field has called on the NSW government to “keep up momentum” for a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags, beyond the hype of Plastic Free July.
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While most other states have banned or are on their way to banning single-use plastic bags, Premier Berejikilan has refused to act.
- Justin Field
The annual event had a unprecedented success this year with major retailers Woolworths, Coles and Harris Farm announcing plans to phase out single-use plastic bags over the next 12 months.
However, the Greens marine spokesperson urged the government to make the ban statewide.
“The Berejiklian Government is out of step with growing community support for NSW to join the majority of other Australian states and ban single-use plastic bags,” Mr Field said.
A petition supporting Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi’s bill to ban lightweight plastic bags in NSW has received more than 117,000 signatures so far.
It is estimated more than 50 million plastic bags end up as litter in the environment each year in Australia, with a staggering amount making their way into waterways where they kill and injure dolphins, turtles, birds and other marine life.
“Every year in NSW thousands of marine animals are injured and killed by plastic pollution in our oceans,” Mr Field said.
“There is one way to fix it - it's time to put an end to single-use plastics.”
NSW is falling behind the rest of the country and the rest of the world when it comes to reducing litter and protecting our marine life, said Mr Field.
“While most other states have banned or are on their way to banning single-use plastic bags, Premier Berejikilan has refused to act,” he said.
“The community is ready for change, the big supermarkets have announced plastic bag bans, now we need action from the NSW Premier.
“The Greens will stand with the community and keep up pressure for the change needed.
“Every day we delay a ban on plastic bags is a missed opportunity for reducing pollution, protecting marine life and creating a healthier future for NSW.”