http://www.smh.com.au/comment/dont-treat-australia-like-a-rubbish-tip--ban-plastic-bags-straws-and-cups-20170618-gwtly8.html
Twenty years ago we brought our family to this beautiful country to live - we came here to provide our children with a safe and beautiful place in which they could grow up. When we were granted citizenship two years later we were so very proud to be called Australian - anyone who migrates here will know how hard it is to get a visa to live in this country. In those days we regarded it as an honour to be accepted here - and a privilege to live here. We loved the pride Australians had for their country.
On our arrival we were amazed at how little litter there was on the streets, in the parks and on the beaches. Sadly now this is not the case - people drop their litter anywhere and everywhere. Take-away containers, bottles, tins, tissues, wipes and papers litter the streets and gutters - they are pushed into hedges and dropped next to council bins. Sure, some people pick up the dog poops, but others collect the poop in a bag and then drop the bag and the poop on the ground and others just walk off and leave the mess. People move house and buy new furniture and take the old stuff out and leave it on the street.
Most people do the right thing - but so many people don't. It breaks my heart to see this lovely country going down the toilet because it is being treated like a toilet.
The government needs to ban plastic bags - now - third world countries have done this and so can we.
Plastic cups, straws, knives, forks and spoons should all be banned and replaced with biodegradable ones. It should be an offence to supply or use them.
Plastic bottles and cans should have a deposit to encourage recycling and there should be recycling depots in every suburb.
