A count of final votes has begun for the winner of the 2017 Taronga Green Grants. The winner will be announced 10 August, and the five finalists include:

Seaside Scavenge

Seaside Scavenge is a waterway cleanup and clothes swap event where litter collected becomes the currency to purchase quality pre-loved clothes, books and more at participating venues that have been donated by the local community.

Tangaroa Blue Foundation

Tangaroa Blue Foundation is a national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the removal and prevention of marine debris. Their project would fund capacity building in six remote communities in Cape York, the Torres Strait Islands, Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island, to tackle plastic marine debris & waste. This would allow the communities within these regions to be trained in the process of coordinating beach clean-ups, data collection and source reduction.

The Last Straw

One estimate suggests that more than 500 million plastic straws go into landfill or the ocean every day. The Last Straw is a campaign to end the use of plastic straws in venues such as cafes and restaurants across Australia, by changing individual attitudes and behaviours, and promoting the transition to a sustainable alternative.

Ocean Action Network

The Ocean Action Network would be Australia's most ambitious and far-reaching national framework for addressing marine plastic pollution at the community level. In its first year the network would train over 200 teachers and community leaders across Australia, reaching over 100,000 school children and activating over 100 community initiatives to reduce and prevent marine plastic pollution.

Viva la Cup

Catch the reuse revolution! With Viva la Cup, you could order coffee to-go, guilt free. Take it away in a reusable cup and then simply return the cup at any participating cafe along the way. Like a bike share, but with coffee cups. Easy and convenient, how revolutions should be.