Plastic Bag Free Manly - Manly Environment Centre - Manly Environment Centre

Photo shooting with the Plastic Princess

mec@mec.org.au (Super Admin) — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 12:28:38 +1100

The Plastic Princess posed on the beach today. Many pedestrians and beach visitors were curious about our princess and took pictures of her standing beside the 'Keep our sea plastic free' banner. On Ocean Care Day, 5th December, the Plastic Princess will be available for photo shootings at the Project Plastic site.

Kayak Sea and Beach Clean Up

mec@mec.org.au (Super Admin) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:56:26 +1100

Manly Environment Centre interns joined Craig Moulds, owner of Manly Boat & Kayak Hire, for a sea and beach clean up. They collected plastic bottles, cups and plastic bags along Manly's shoreline and on Collins Beach. The clean up was recorded for the 'Keep our sea plastic free' project.

Video interview with Ian Kiernan

mec@mec.org.au (Super Admin) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:36:20 +1100

In the lead up for the Ocean Care Day Festival and our 'Keep our sea plastic free' project we recorded a video interview with Ian Kiernan, founder of Clean Up Australia. Keep your eyes out for the video clip.

Ian Kiernan represented Australia in the BOC Challenge solo around-the-world yacht race. During his journey Ian experienced first hand the pollution of our oceans. Back in Australia he and co-founder Kim McKay organised the first major Sydney Harbour clean up event, which attracted over 40 000 volunteers. Today Ian is the Executive Chairman of Clean Up Australia Ltd, the national non-profit organisation that co-ordinates Clean Up Australia Day and Clean Up the World. In 1994 Ian was named Australia of the Year in recognition of his environmental engagement. He was further awarded the Banksia Foundation Fellowship in 1995 and made an Officer of the Order of Australia.

Ian told us about the importance to take care of Manly's environment and he supports our aim to make Manly plastic bag free.

Ocean Care Day Festival

mec@mec.org.au (Super Admin) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:18:22 +1100

Our activities during Ocean Care Day

Meet the plastic princesses, dressed in recycled plastic bag dresses and get your plastic bag swapped to a reusable bag.
Participate in a Beach Clean Up.
Sign our pledge to make Manly plastic bag free.
Learn about the environmental impacts of plastic in our Ocean Lab.
Read about plastic issues in Australia and around the world.
Visit our 'Wall of Shame' and see how polluted our beach is.

Anti-plastic bag campaigns in Australia

mec@mec.org.au (Super Admin) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:27:58 +1100

The initiator: Coles Bay, Tasmania

Coles Bay in Tasmania was the first community to ban plastic bags in Australia. In 2003 the local initiative successfully disposed all light weight plastic bags from the supermarket check-outs. During the first 12 months Coles Bay stopped the use of 350,000 plastic bags.

The first state to ban plastic bags: South Australia

In 2009 South Australia became the first Australian state to ban plastic bags. Since then 82% of South Australians believe that the ban of plastic bags is an important environmental issue. In the first 6 months they stopped the use of 200 million plastic bags. The ACT and the Northern Territory are drafting similar regulations.

Retailers campaign: Harris Farm Market

Harris Farm Market donates 5c to Clean Up Australia for every person who doesn't want a plastic bag. With this campaign they aim to reduce the use of plastic bags by 1/2 million in six months.

Facts about plastic

mec@mec.org.au (Super Admin) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:08:25 +1100

Australians use 3.9 billion plastic bags per year.
2.95 billion plastic bags are handed out in supermarkets in Australia each year.
Nearly 1/2 million plastic bags are collected each year on 'Clean Up Australia Day'.
The amount of petroleum used to make a plastic bag would drive a car about 11 meters.
Just 1% of the plastic bags are recycled.
It takes 15-1000 years to break down a plastic bag.