Australia Post called out over hidden harm in common delivery: 'Environmental vandalism'

The majority of Australians are happy to do their little bit for the environment. We conscientiously put the glass in the yellow bin and the paper in the blue one for the weekly garbage collection.

We avoid flushing things down the loo that will take 200 years to break down and try not to overdo the takeaway coffee cups.

When it comes to shopping, most of us have been trained to bring our own bags to further cut down on waste from plastic.

And we know single-use water bottles are not ideal and cable ties are the devil's rope.

But every now and again, an environmentally-damaging item slips through to the keeper and leaves you thinking: "I never thought of that".

In this case we're talking the humble fridge magnet, folks.

They're in millions of Australian homes, keeping kids' school certificates, sporting achievements, shopping receipts and family photos in place each time you open the Fisher and Paykel.

They're usually magnets we've picked up on our travels or had placed in our letterbox by the local plumber, or the bloke offering to unclog your gutters and pressure wash your driveway.

When they're doing their job on the fridge, that’s okay.

The problem arises when we get stuck with too many of these suckers and end up tossing them out.

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Petition calls to ban magnets: 'Unnecessary burden'

The supply of fridge magnets to Australian households via letterboxes has reached such a saturation point that a petition to ban the practice has been put to federal parliament.

"The delivery of fridge magnets via Australia Post mass mail outs (or hand delivery) is environmental vandalism as the vast majority end up in landfill," the petition reads.

"Magnets are made from non-renewable rare-earth metals which are mined causing significant destruction and degradation of natural ecosystems.

"We therefore ask the House [of Representatives] to make the mass distribution of fridge magnets illegal as the vast majority end up in landfill and are an unnecessary burden on our fragile environment."

What you can do with your unwanted magnets

Environmental organisation Planet Ark is also taking up the fight, suggesting ways for people to "repurpose" the magnets for use in artwork or as paper clip storers.

Reuse centres like Reverse Garbage are also happy to receive your unwanted magnets.

But it seems the strongest action we can take is boycotting the very businesses bombarding us with their unattractive attractors.

Planet Ark stated: "The last step to reduce the magnet flow is to go back to the business who sent you the magnet and let them know you are not interested, and, instead of inspiring you to use their services, they encourage you to actively avoid them."

Residents frustrated by magnets: 'From the mailbox to the bin'

And judging by the comments on one community Facebook group in Sydney, it seems some residents are doing just that.

"From the mailbox to the bin. Terrible waste of resources. Triples the chance that I will never ever use them or their services," wrote one unimpressed magnet receiver.

Another posted: "Awful s**te for the environment that 99% of ends up in landfill never to break down. Send a message to their number and let them know."

Is it time for all of us to detach from these magnets?

The negatives seemingly outweigh the positives.

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