DRINKING straws, coffee cups, bait bags and helium balloons need to be banned in Queensland, environmental groups have argued to the state government.
While the government has introduced a bill to ban lightweight plastic shopping bags and start a 10¢ container recycling scheme, some groups say it does not go far enough.
Sunshine Coast Surfrider Foundation secretary Christine Glennie said plastic bags of all weights - including bags for vegetables, meat and fish - should be banned.
And single use plastic bait bags also needed to go, she said.
"My father used to buy frozen bait, wrapped in white butcher paper," Ms Glennie said in a submission to a parliamentary committee considering the bill.
The group also recommended the phasing out of all disposable plastic straws, knives, forks, spoons, cups and plates, which should be replaced with biodegradable and worm-friendly organic alternatives, such as starch.
"It is usually mostly plastic," she said.
"I don't like having to cut fishing tackle from pelicans or releasing small fish trapped inside plastic Coca-Cola bottles."
The Surfriders group said plastic takeaway food containers should not used and people should BYO containers or use compostable products, and plastic coffee cups should also be phased out.
Norman Creek Catchment Co-ordinating Committee member Ray Ison agreed bait bags and helium balloons should be included in the legislation.
"Bait bags are by their very nature are used on or close to water and invariably they finish up in the water," he said.
The Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland said deliberately releasing helium balloons should be stopped, as they accounted for more than 70 per cent of plastic found inside dead turtles in Moreton Bay.
The society said bait bags should be banned and reusable containers used instead.
It said Queenslanders needed to change their habits with disposable plastics, such as plastic film and wrappers, food trays, cups and plates.
The Wide Bay Burnett Environment Council's Mike Moller supported a ban on bait bags and deliberately releasing helium balloons.
"Banning plastic bags is just the first step in reducing plastic litter," Mr Moller wrote.
"The government should establish a plastic reduction taskforce to identify other problematic, single use and disposable plastic items (ie coffee cups, polystyrene, straws, takeaway containers... and water bottles) for future policy action."
That position was also supported by the Boomerang Alliance, Greenpeace and Queensland Conservation Council.
The Sunshine Coast Environment Council said Queensland could ban plastic and polystyrene packing of fresh food and vegetables, bait bags and helium balloon releases.
Boomerang Alliance Queensland manager Toby Hutcheon said it was believed the planned container recycling scheme and plastic bag ban would reduce litter by up to 50 per cent.
Coolum and North Shore Coast Care volunteers carry out marine debris beach surveys at four sites on the northern Sunshine Coast.
They discovered hard plastic pieces made up the majority of rubbish items found, followed by polystyrene, plastic string and cigarette butts.
In a written response to submissions, Department of Environment and Heritage Protection officers noted many people stated more needed to be done, mentioning helium balloons, bait bags, straws, coffee cups and other materials.
"The department recognises that there are a number of sources of plastic pollution," the response says.
"The plastic shopping bag ban and the container refund scheme provide the foundation to build other programs and initiatives.
"The department is currently developing a Plastic Pollution Reduction Plan, the overall aim of which is to reduce the amount of plastic entering and in the environment."
