CUT THE WRAP

We are now at a critical turning point. In mid-September, Federal, State, and Territory Environment Ministers will gather to determine national packaging rules. While the No Time To Waste Bill has built significant momentum in Parliament, powerful opposition from corporate retail, meat, and dairy sectors is actively trying to stall progress.

Only 16% of Australia's single-use plastic packaging is recovered. The rest creates a visible crisis in our waterways and landfills, while quietly exposing us to a toxic chemical load embedded in everyday packaging.

If ministers opt for weak, co-regulatory compromises, Australia’s domestic recycling industry will face collapse, and soft plastic recovery will cease.

We need to make it clear that voluntary promises do not work. Use our quick tool to send a direct message to your MP and Environment Minister. Ask them to champion a legally binding Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme that makes producers fund full recovery and transition to reusable systems.

We are now at a critical turning point. In mid-September, Federal, State, and Territory Environment Ministers will gather to determine national packaging rules. While the No Time To Waste Bill has built significant momentum in Parliament, powerful opposition from corporate retail, meat, and dairy sectors is actively trying to stall progress.

Only 16% of Australia's single-use plastic packaging is recovered. The rest creates a visible crisis in our waterways and landfills, while quietly exposing us to a toxic chemical load embedded in everyday packaging.

If ministers opt for weak, co-regulatory compromises, Australia’s domestic recycling industry will face collapse, and soft plastic recovery will cease.

We need to make it clear that voluntary promises do not work. Use our quick tool to send a direct message to your MP and Environment Minister. Ask them to champion a legally binding Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme that makes producers fund full recovery and transition to reusable systems.

Urgent: Stop Packaging Waste, Hold Producers Accountable

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With 85% of Australians concerned about plastic pollution (YouGov Poll 2024), we need real packaging solutions that lower household costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect human and environmental health. Over 80 countries worldwide have already successfully implemented Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes—proving that the solutions exist, work, and are ready to deploy.

Australia must follow suit by eliminating unnecessary single-use packaging, accelerating the transition to reusables, and closing the loop to ensure all packaging is recovered in practice and at scale.

As my elected representative, will you commit to fixing Australia’s packaging waste and plastic pollution crisis?

I am writing to urge the Federal Government to take immediate action on Australia’s growing packaging waste crisis by introducing strong, enforceable laws that hold producers accountable for the waste they create. For too long, voluntary industry schemes have failed, and as a result, plastic recovery rates are now lower than reported in 1999. This is unacceptable.

Ahead of the upcoming Environment Ministers Meeting, I call on you and the government to support:

- An Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Scheme for Packaging by 2026: Requiring producers to fully fund the collection and recovery of their packaging, with mandatory reduction and reuse targets.

- A fast-tracked national soft plastics collection service: Ensuring producers cover the full cost of recycling the 150,000 tonnes of soft plastics currently being stockpiled or sent to landfill.

- Phasing out unnecessary and problematic packaging: Mandating reusable packaging systems to reduce waste at the source, with no more delays or loopholes.
- Mandatory reuse rules for public spaces: Requiring all major stadiums, public events, and government precincts to eliminate single-use packaging by switching to reusable cups and containers.

- Parliamentary leadership: Making a personal commitment to ditch single-use cups and takeaway containers in your office and electorate by switching to reusables.

It’s time for bold action to stop plastic pollution at the source.

Without urgent intervention, plastic waste will continue to pollute our environment, threaten public health, and drive up costs for local councils and households. Everyday Australians should not be left to bear the financial and environmental burden of corporate waste when over 80 other nations have already proven that producer accountability works.

The Federal Government must act now to move Australia towards a genuinely circular, waste-free future.

I look forward to hearing your commitment on this vital issue.

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