ACT Heritage Library Manuscript Collections
HMSS 0477 The Department of the Interior Litter Bag
| Call Number | HMSS 0477 |
|---|---|
| Collection | The Department of the Interior Litter Bag |
| Date Range | 1970, 2015 |
| Quantity | 0.01m (1 folder) |
| Access Conditions | open |
| Copying Conditions | with attribution |
| Related Collections |
During the 1970s, the Department of the Interior issued small rubbish bags to be kept and used in cars in an effort to reduce the amount of litter being thrown out of car windows by motorists. Bags were issued at government access points, the Canberra Tourist Bureau (then on Northbourne Avenue) and at Regatta Point.
The bags were made of clear plastic, with dark green print. The swans from the ACT's coat of arms are featured with litter in their beaks and a bin between them, ready to discard the litter.
On 2 June 2015, Shane Rattenbury MLA (Greens), then Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, received a letter from Mrs Janet McCotter of Pearce, ACT regarding her concerns about littering. Her letter included one of these litter bags.
The collection contains a copy of Minister Rattenbury's response letter of 24 August 2015, as well as the bag itself. In his response letter, Minister Rattenbury suggests the bags were issued 'most likely when [motorists were] registering their vehicles to encourage them to dispose of litter accordingly'.
| Box Number | Description | Quantity | Date Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Copy of response letter to Janet McCotter from Minister Shane Rattenbury MLA (Greens) regarding litter bag provided to residents by the former Department of the Interior | 1 | 24/08/2015 |
| 1 | 1 x litter bag embossed with the words "With the compliments of the Department of the Interior, Canberra" | 1 | circa 1970 |