SNIP RINGS FOR WILDLIFE

The Society established a new campaign called Snip Rings for Wildlife in 2020.  The campaign aims to raise awareness and encourage individuals to protect Australia’s wildlife, by cutting through plastic rings, rubber bands, hair ties, the loops of facemasks, and plastic dome-shaped lids, in their entirety, before disposing of them.  Each year, thousands of birds and air-breathing aquatic wildlife such as platypus, turtles, and water dragons are strangled, obtain significant injuries, and often die horrific deaths from discarded litter. Wildlife often becomes entangled in plastic rings, rubber bands, and hair ties that wrap around their beak or muzzle, preventing them from eating.  These items can also tangle up their feet, wings, or fins, limiting their movement.  Young animals can become entrapped in these items and as they grow, these items cut into their flesh, sometimes amputating limbs or killing the animal.  Other animals mistake these items for food and ingest them.

Despite contacting numerous manufacturers, informing them of the danger that plastic rings, rubber bands, and hair ties pose to native wildlife, and encouraging them to take action to improve their products, we are still experiencing the same problem and many companies are not taking action.  Jars, bottles, and tetra packs with plastic lids now come with a plastic ring that snaps apart from the lid upon opening or a peel-off seal under the cap. While we continue to encourage companies to take action, we turn to our followers to ask for your support to protect Australia’s wildlife and Snip Rings for Wildlife.  We encourage everyone to cut through plastic rings, rubber bands, and hair ties before disposing of them. It is important to remind ourselves that we can act, both as individuals and collectively, to bring about important changes ourselves and create real change. We acknowledge and commend the companies that have already taken action to make a positive change and improve their products for Australia’s wildlife.

The Society encourages everyone to get behind and help promote the campaign, by posting a video of themselves on social media snipping through a plastic ring, rubber band, or hair tie before disposing of it. Do not forget to use the hashtag #snipringsforwildlife. We welcome artwork related to Snip rings for Wildlife for publication in our newsletter and on our website to help promote the campaign and emphasise the actions people are taking to protect Australia’s wildlife. Material for publication can be sent to [email protected]. We also encourage everyone to become a member of the Society to support the vital wildlife conservation work that is being implemented. 

Should snipped plastic rings go in the recycling or general waste bin?

Unfortunately, the answer is not straightforward and can be somewhat confusing due to the recycling technology at different processing facilities.

Yes, you can separate the rings from the neck of the bottle before throwing the plastic ring in the recycling bin.  However, plastic rings and lids on their own are often too small for current recycling technology to sort, so it is advised not to place them loose in the recycling bin.  If the plastic ring is detected as too small, it will be automatically discarded and diverted to general waste.  However, if its small size is not detected, the plastic ring is more likely to be recycled with the larger items.  You may like to separate the plastic ring, place it in the bottle, and put the lid back on to ensure it gets recycled with the larger items.

Sometimes, the plastic rings and lids are not the same type of plastic as the bottle, but they can be easily separated in many processing facilities.

Ideally, it would be best for plastic rings to be eliminated during the product manufacturing stage – something the Society continues to encourage manufacturers to do to help protect native wildlife.

Please check with your council for any specific local advice around recycling plastic rings.

Additional information:

Australasian Recycling Label

Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation

The Society created a template letter to help Australian's contact and encourage manufacturers to improve the design of their products to protect Australia's native wildlife.