Article

Last updated: 9th July 2025

Plastic cutlery, plates and straws are among a list of single-use plastics to be phased out by 2025 under a plan to reduce plastic waste in our region. Australia produces 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year with 84% of it sent to landfills. It is reported that approximately 130,000 tonnes of plastic waste leak into the environment annually which is a huge concern for not only the Australian Marine Conservation Society but our planet and future generations as well.

Global companies are the biggest producers of plastic waste. In 2019, Australia produced nearly 59kg of single-use plastic waste per person, considered the highest per person plastic wastage data reported globally. Usage is at such a worrying high, and in 2018 the Australian Government established the 2025 National Packaging Targets with a goal that by 2025: 100% of packaging will be reusable, recyclable or compostable; 70% of plastic packaging will be recyclable or compostable, And 50% of all packaging materials will be recyclable.

In response to these goals, each state and territory has committed to the independent regulations we highlight below and we will continue to provide updates as new information is released.

View the current regulatory guidelines for

1. Northern Territory
2. South Australia
3. Tasmania
4. Australian Capital Territory
5. Queensland
6. Victoria
7. Western Australia
8. New South Wales

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Bans commenced 1st January 2019 for:

• Disposable cups (hot and cold) and lids

• Plastic cutlery and stirrers

• Plastic plates and bowls

• Plastic takeaway containers

• Plastic straws

• Balloons

Applies to both vendors and individuals attending events or picnicking in council-managed spaces.

Proposed Territory-Wide Bans (expected by 2025 under the NT Circular Economy Strategy):

• plastic bags

• plastic straws

• plastic utensils and stirrers

• plastic bowls and plates

• expanded polystyrene (EPS) consumer food containers

• microbeads in personal health care products

• EPS consumer goods packaging (loose fill and moulded)

• helium balloons

VISIT THE WEBSITE: Northern Territory Plastic Ban
MORE INFORMATION: From our friends at Detpak

Recommended alternatives 

Drink Stirrers	Coffee Cups	Drink Cups	Clamshells
Wooden Cutlery	Palm leaf Plates	Paper Straws	Food Trays

• Single-use plastic straws

• Plastic cutlery

• Plastic stirrers

• Expanded polystyrene cups, bowls, plates, and clamshell containers

• Oxo degradable plastic products were prohibited from production, manufacture and sale

• Plastic-stemmed cotton buds

• Single-use plastic bowls and plates

• Plastic pizza savers

• Plastic barrier bags

• Thick boutique/supermarket-style plastic bags

• Single-use plastic beverage containers (including coffee cups)

Upcoming: 1 September 2025

• Plastic fruit stickers

• Plastic soy sauce fish sachets

• Pre-packaged products containing straws or cutlery

VIEW THE STATE ACT: Single-use and Other Plastic Products (Waste Avoidance) Act 2020 (SA).

Recommended alternatives

Paper Straws	Wooden Cutlery	Palm leaf Plates	Eco Hot Cups
Clamshells	Pulp Bowls	Snack Boxes	Drink Stirrers

Single-use plastic bags ("checkout" style plastic bags) are banned in all Australian states and territories as of 1st June 2022

Existing stock cannot be used until exhausted. As of July 1st, no single-use products listed above can be distributed even if it is existing stock. 

EXEMPTIONS: All of Tasmania, except for Hobart, are exempt from the by-law. Aged care and disability sectors in Hobart are also exempt from the by-law.

VISIT THE WEBSITE: City of Hobart’s Single-use plastics by-law information
DOWNLOAD THE INFORMATION SHEET: Single-use plastic by-law

Recommended alternatives

Sandwich Wedges	Wooden Cutlery	Palm leaf Plates	Drink Cups
Noodle Boxes	Coffee Cups	Paper Straws	Cling Wrap

• Single-use plastic cutlery

• Plastic beverage stirrers

• EPS food and drink containers

• Non-compostable degradable plastic bags

• Boutique/laminated plastic shopping bags

• Single-use plastic plates and bowls

• EPS loose-fill packaging and trays

• Plastic microbeads in rinse-off personal care/cleaning products

• Heavyweight plastic bags (>35 microns)

• Spill proof bowls

• Scientific, medical & forensic uses

• Integrated packaging items

• Medical & disability straws

• Detainee & mental health cutlery

Plastic bags at or below 35 micrometres have been banned since 2011. This includes plastic bags marked as recyclable or reusable. Heavyweight shopping bags are being considered for future phase-out. Single-use plastic bags ("checkout" style plastic bags) are banned in all Australian states and territories as of 1st June 2022.

VISIT THE ACT WEBSITE: Single-use plastics
READ THE MEDIA RELEASE: Single-use plastic ban from 1 July 2021. (ACT Government, 02 Dec 2020)

Recommended alternatives

Coffee Cups	Paper Straws	Drink Stirrers	Cling Wrap
Wooden Cutlery	Pulp Bowls	Clamshells	Sandwich Wedges

QUEENSLAND

The Waste Reduction and Recycling (Plastic Items) Amendment Act 2021 took effect on 31 August 2021.

Banned Items:

• Single-use plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, and bowls

• EPS takeaway containers and cups

• Cotton buds with plastic stems

• EPS loose-fill packaging (peanuts)

• Plastic microbeads in rinse-off personal care or cleaning products

• Outdoor release of lighter than air balloons (e.g. Helium). Shopping bags need to meet material and reusability requirements.

Exemptions (use permitted in)

• Hospitals, dental and medical clinics

• Pharmacies

• Aged care and disability care facilities

• Medical suppliers

VIEW THE ACT: Waste Reduction and Recycling (Plastic Items) Amendment Act 2021 (Qld).

Recommended alternatives

Paper Straws	Wooden Cutlery	Drink Stirrers	Coffee Cups
Palm leaf Plates	Pulp Bowls	Snack Boxes	Takeaway Containers

• Drinking straws

• Cutlery

• Plates

• Drink stirrers

• Cotton bud sticks

• Expanded polystyrene food and drink containers

• Applies only to general use

• Exempt for medical, scientific, emergency services, and accessibility needs

By 2030 a 4-bin waste and recycling system will be standard for households across the state; And by 2022-23, a container deposit scheme will be implemented for the exchange of cans and bottles for cash. 

Single-use plastic bags ("checkout" style plastic bags) are banned in all Australian states and territories as of 1st June 2022.

VISIT THE WEBSITE: Victoria Government Transforming Recycling In Victoria.
DOWNLOAD: Recycling Victoria Policy document

Recommended alternatives

Wooden Cutlery	Drink Stirrers	Palm leaf Plates	Pulp Bowls
Paper Straws	Drink Cups	Coffee Cups	Snack boxes

Stage 1 (from 31 December 2021):Ban on plastic plates, bowls, cups, cutlery, stirrers, straws

• Thick bags

• EPS food containers

• Helium balloon releases

Stage 2 (phased through to 1 July 2025):

• Loose and moulded EPS packaging

• Degradable plastics

• Produce bags

• EPS cups and meat/seafood trays

• Coffee cups and lids

• Lids for bowls, trays, and takeaway containers

• Food trays (not covered in Stage 1)

• Cotton buds with plastic stems

• Microbeads

EXEMPTIONS: The Government of Western Australia is in consultation with disability, health and aged-care sectors to better understand their needs regarding exemptions. 

VISIT THE WEBSITE: Western Australia's Plan for Plastics
DOWNLOAD: WA's Single-use plastic ban: FAQs
READ THE MEDIA RELEASE: Western Australia's plan to ban single-use plastics fast-tracked. (Hon Mark McGowan BA LLB MLA, 13 June 2021)

Recommended alternatives

Cling Wrap	Pulp Bowl	Takeaway Containers	Noodle Boxes
Coffee Cups	Drink Cups	Paper Straws	Wooden Cutlery

• Ban on lightweight plastic shopping bags (≤35 microns)

• Ban on single-use straws, stirrers, cutlery (incl. chopsticks/sporks), plates, bowls (unless spill-proof), and cotton buds

• EPS food service items (incl. cups, plates, bowls, trays etc.)

• Rinse-off personal care products with microbeads

• Ban on integrated packaging (e.g., plastic straw attached to juice boxes)
  
  Single-use plastic bags ("checkout" style plastic bags) are banned in all Australian states and territories as of 1st June 2022.

EXEMPTIONS: Details pending

VIEW THE ACT OR MEDIA RELEASE:  Pending
VISIT THE WEBSITE: NSW Plastics Plan Discussion Paper
DOWNLOAD: NSW Plastics Plan Paper "Cleaning Up Our Act: Redirecting the future of plastic"

Recommended alternatives

Sandwich Wedges	Drink Stirrers	Coffee Cups	Food Trays
Wooden Cutlery	Paper Straws	Cling Wrap	Food Tubs