The “recycling wars” between Coca-Cola and Greenpeace have spilt into cyberspace, with the beverage giant buying the top advertising slot for searches of the environmental group's name.

The battle for internet attention follows claims by Greenpeace that free-to-air television channels 7, 9, 10 and SBS had all declined to broadcast the group's anti-Coca-Cola, pro-recycling ad.

“Pretty much everywhere we've gone, advertising space has been blocked,” James Lorenz, communications manager for Greenpeace, said. “Our assumption is that it's the advertising pressure from Coke.”

Since May 5, Greenpeace's “Stop Coca-Cola trashing Australia” video has received almost 1 million views. The 46-second YouTube version of the ad shows young people drinking Coke before dead birds start dropping from the sky or washing up on the beach, killed by discarded plastics.