Tackling the single-use plastic challenge in Australia: state-by-state overview

Plastics play an important role in our economy and daily lives. When used in packaging, plastic helps ensure food safety and reduce food waste. But often, the way plastics are produced, used and discarded can result in wasted resources, causing pollution and litter.

Bonson supports the single-use plastic bans as an effort to reduce the use of problematic single-use plastic products. As a packaging supplier, we are proud to be leading the way with our food service customers in making the change, taking a positive step towards a circular economy by avoiding waste and shifting to reusable or recyclable options in plastic packaging.

Buying from Bonson

At Bonson, we are committed to improving our efforts towards a circular economy through sustainable packaging, this involves offering you options you can trust and supporting your business in making the right packaging choices. Below is key information on Bonson’s packaging solutions as it relates to the single-use plastic ban. Feel free to download and share with your staff or customers to help them make sustainable decisions. You can also find more information on the ban below, including a state-by-state overview.

Australia’s national plan in tackling plastic waste

As a nation, the Australian Government is taking action through the National Plastic Plan, working with states, industry and community towards reducing plastic waste and pollution.

Prevention Addressing plastics at its source

Recycling Taking responsibility for our plastics

Consumers Helping consumers take action

Addressing marine plastic pollution

Research, innovation, and data

The first step to reducing plastic waste and pollution is to prevent the use of unnecessary and problematic plastics. At the prevention phase of the plan, States are taking actions to phase out problematic and unnecessary plastics in line with the national goals, below is an overview of the timeline, with a focus on National Packaging Targets:

By Jul 2022

Phase out oxo-degradable plastic packaging
Phase out expanded polystyrene (EPS) in loose-fill and moulded consumer packaging

By Dec 2022

Phase out expanded polystyrene (EPS) consumer food and beverage containers
Phase out polyvinyl chloride (PVC) packaging labels

By Dec 2023

At least 80% of supermarket products to display the Australasian Recycling Label

By 2025

National Packaging Targets for industry:

- 100% of packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable
- 70% of plastic packaging goes on to be recycled or composted
- 50% average recycled content within packaging (20% for plastic packaging)
- problematic and unnecessary single-use plastics packaging phased out (target 5 of NWPAP)

Overview of the plastic legislation status, state-by-state…

South Australia | Plastic ban effective from 1 Mar 2021

South Australia’s Single-use and Other Plastic Products (Waste Avoidance) Act 2020 was passed on 9 September 2020. The legislation prohibits the sale, supply or distribution of the banned items in the state:

From 1 Mar 2021

Single-use plastic straws (exemption applies)
Single-use plastic stirrers
Single-use plastic cutlery

This ban applies to PLA bioplastic alternatives.

From 1 Mar 2022

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) packaging – including cups, bowls, plates and containers
Oxo-degradable plastic products

From 1 Sep 2023

Single-use plastic plates and unlidded bowls (exemption applies)
Cotton buds with plastic stems
Plastic pizza savers

For more details about the ban, click the button below to view our factsheet and alternative flyer, or visit the SA Government Replace the Waste website.

Queensland | Plastic ban effective from 1 Sep 2021

Queensland’s Plastic Pollution Reduction Plan outlines its approach to tackle plastic waste in the state, in line with the national and global sustainability goals. The Waste Reduction and Recycling (Plastic Items) Amendment Act 2021 was passed on 10 March 2021, prohibiting the sale or supply of the banned items in Queensland:

From 1 September 2021

Single-use plastic straws
Sing-use plastic stirrers
Single-use plastic cutlery
Single-use plastic plates and bowls
EPS containers and cups

From 1 Sep 2023

plastic shopping bags with handles that do not meet the new requirements
- - Be made from a minimum of 80% recycled content verified by a recognised program or certification, AND
  - Be durable and big enough to carry 10 kilograms for at least 125 uses verified by a recognised reusability, durability or endurance test.
cotton buds with plastic stems
expanded polystyrene (EPS) loose-fill packaging
plastic microbeads in rinseable personal care and cleaning products
balloon releases

Note:

The banned items can continue to be supplied if they are a part of shelf-ready, pre-packaged products.
Compostable plastics that are certified home (AS 5810) or industrially (AS 4736) compostable under the Australian standards are exempt from the ban.
Some exemptions apply

For more details about the ban, click the button below to view our factsheet and alternative flyer, or visit the Queensland Government website.

Tasmania, Hobart City Council | Plastic ban effective from 1 Jul 2021

The City of Hobart has a by-law that is targeted towards single-use plastic items at takeaway food retailers. The ban will be enforceable from 1 July 2021, prohibiting a shop operator from providing the following takeaway packaging:

Single-use plastic food containers and lids
Single-use plastic-lined food boxes and coffee cups
Single-use plastic cups and cup lids
Single-use plastic utensils, including cutlery, stirrers and straws
Single-use plastic sachets or packets which provide single serves of condiments

For more details about the ban, visit the Hobart City Council website.

Australian Capital Territory | Plastic ban effective from 1 Jul 2021

ACT’s Plastic Reduction Bill 2020 was passed on 30 March 2021, prohibiting the banned items from sale, supply or distribution in the ACT from 1 July 2021:

Single-use plastic cutlery (including bioplastic alternatives)
Single-use plastic stirrers (including bioplastic alternatives)
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) takeaway food and beverage containers

The use of single-use plastic cutlery in detainee or mental health patient-facing settings will be exempt from the legislation until 1 July 2022, while a trial is underway to identify safe alternatives.

The ACT Government is banning additional plastic items in two stages.

From 1 Jul 2023

single-use plastic plates and unlidded bowls
expanded polystyrene loose fill packaging
expanded polystyrene trays
plastic microbeads in rinse-off personal care and cleaning products

From 1 Jan 2024

heavyweight and boutique plastic bags

For more details about the ban, visit the ACT Government’s website.

Victoria | Plastic ban effective from 1 Feb 2023

Victoria is working on the single-use plastic regulations, prohibiting the single-use plastic items from sale or supply in Victoria by February 2023:

Single-use plastic straws
Single-use plastic cutlery
Single-use plastic plates
Single-use plastic drink-stirrers
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) food and drink containers
Single-use plastic cotton bud sticks

For more information about Victoria’s coming plastic ban, visit Victoria Government’s website.

Western Australia | Regulations commence on 1 January 2022

Western Australia’s Plan for Plastics was released in November 2020 and fast-tracked in June 2021. The plan prohibits the sale, supply or distribution of the banned items in the state:

Stage 1: Regulations commence on 1 January 2022 with enforcement of the bans commencing from 1 July 2022 (except cups, from 1 October 2022)

Single-use plastic cutlery
Single-use plastic stirrers
Single-use plastic straws
Single-use plastic plates
Single-use plastic bowls
Single-use plastic cups
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) food containers
Thick plastic bags
Single-use plastic helium balloon releases
Single-use plastic unlidded containers

Stage 2: Stage 2 regulations came into effect on 27 February 2023 (phasing out a second set of items between 1 September 2023 and 1 July 2025)

Barrier/produce bags
Microbeads
Polystyrene packaging
Polystyrene cups
Expanded polystyrene packaging (loose/moulded)
Coffee cups and lids
Cotton buds with plastic shafts
Lids for cups and bowls
Oxo-degradable plastics (plastics designed to break up more rapidly into fragments under certain conditions)
Produce bags

Visit Western Australia’s Plan for Plastics website for more information.

New South Wales | Plastic ban effective from 1 Jun 2022

The Plastics and Circular Economy Act 2021 was passed in NSW Parliament meaning a phasing out of single-use plastics from June 2022. The legislation prohibits the sale, supply or distribution of the banned items in the state:

From 1 Jun 2022

lightweight plastic bags

From 1 Nov 2022

Single-use plastics straws, stirrers and cutlery
Single-use plastic unlidded bowls and plates
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) food service items
Single-use plastic cotton buds and microbeads in certain personal care products

This ban applies to PLA bioplastic alternatives.

Visit the New South Wales Government’s website for more information.

Bonson believes that the ultimate environmental solution is a circular economy and we are committed to helping our customers to reduce plastic pollution in Australasia.

Our Bonson Enviro division offers a wide range of packaging that is made with more sustainable materials including sugarcane and paper. The compostable and biodegradable alternatives to plastics are the ideal solutions for phasing out problematic packaging.

*Updated in Oct 2023. Information on this page is provided out of good faith to support the industry’s move towards a circular economy. Bonson takes all reasonable actions and endeavours to keep this information as current and correct as we can, however it is highly recommended that you visit relevant official websites for the most updated information.