The theme for Earth Day 2018 on Sunday was End Plastic Pollution, with countries around the globe participating.

Plastic Free Launceston president Trish Haeusler said reducing plastic waste in the household was a step-by-step process.

She had some advice for people to get into the spirit of the day.

“Take one thing you regularly use and is manageable to replace and stop buying it,” she said.

“For example, cling wrap.

“Make today the day that you remove cling wrap out of your house and use an alternative.”

Earth Day comes during much debate around the use of plastic bags and recycling in Australia. 

With China’s stance of no longer accepting recycling waste from Australia, the pressure is on councils to find other ways of disposing its waste. 

Ms Haeusler said councils wouldn’t have to worry about disposing of recycling waste if communities used more disposable products.

She would like to see governments of all levels get more active in legislating against plastic packaging.

“I look at what Hobart City Council is presenting – to ban all plastic packaging by 2020 –  and I think, ‘with one fell swoop that can all be dealt with’,” she said. 

“I think then businesses will step up to produce things that can be easily composted.”

Plastic Free Launceston’s Last Straw Campaign is currently rallying business owners to ditch plastic straws in favour of sustainable alternatives.

“When you look at a pollutant [like straws] you think, ‘it’s a no-brainer – just ban the damn things’,” she said.