Question 1

Western Australia

Accepted Answer

SUPPORT

The following support is available to businesses and community organisations during the transition for each stage of the single-use plastic bans:

1. The Plastic Ban Solution Finder (https://www.bansolutionfinder.org)is an online database that allows businesses to find specific ban compliant alternatives. 
2. National Retailers Association - The NRA have been engaged by the WA Government to provide a dedicated business hotline - 1800 817 723.(tel:1800817723) A Guide for business and other resources are available at WA Plastics ban.(https://plasticsbanwa.com.au/contact/) 
3. Plastic Free Places (www.plasticfreeplaces.org)-  delivered by the Boomerang Alliance, helps retailers and events to find suitable reuse strategies. A variety of Guides (https://www.plasticfreeplaces.org/guides)and Case Studies (https://www.plasticfreeplaces.org/casestudies)are available.

https://youtu.be/EysPFAt7mP0?si=49dq3v4ruTZ8vRTs

WHAT SINGLE-USE PLASTICS ARE BANNED IN WA?

Information for retailers, suppliers and community organisations on what items are banned can be found on the WA Plastics Ban website:

https://plasticsbanwa.com.au/items/

The WA Government website also is a resource with a listing of the items, their enforcement dates and factsheets for each banned item in the Plan for Plastics Stage 1 (https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-water-and-environmental-regulation/western-australias-plan-plastics-stage-1)(in effect from 1 January 2022) and Stage 2 (https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-water-and-environmental-regulation/western-australias-plan-plastics-stage-2)(in effect from 27 February 2023).

Items banned in Stage 1 
 • plastic plates, including plates with a plastic lining. 
 • plastic cutlery and drink stirrers, including those made from bioplastic.
 • plastic drinking straws, including those made from bioplastic.
 • unlidded plastic cups for cold beverages. Cups that meet Australian composting standards are allowed. 
 • thick plastic shopping bags.
 • expanded polystyrene (EPS) takeaway food containers.
 • helium balloon releases.
 • unlidded plastic bowls and takeaway food containers. Items made from paper/fibre which have a plastic or bioplastic lining or coating, where the whole product is certified compostable to AS standards, are allowed.

Items banned in Stage 2

• loose and moulded expanded polystyrene packaging (in effect from 1 September 2023).
 • cotton buds with plastic stems (in effect from 1 September 2023).
 • degradable plastics (in effect from 1 September 2023).
 • microbeads (in effect from 1 September 2023).
 • expanded polystyrene cups and food trays for raw meat and seafood (in effect from 1 September 2023).
 • plastic hot cups and lids (in effect from 1 March 2024). Hot cups (not lids) that meet Australian composting standards are allowed. 
 • plastic trays for takeaway food not covered in the Stage 1 ban (in effect from 1 March 2024). Items made from paper/fibre which have a plastic or bioplastic lining or coating, where the whole product is certified compostable to AS standards, are allowed. 
 • plastic lids for cups, trays, bowls, plates and lidded takeaway food containers that are used for takeaway or eat in food and are not pre-packed (in effect from 1 September 2024). Exemptions apply for food containers and their lids only for takeaway food uses when the container is holding soupy or liquid foods that are served over 60 degrees Celsius or intended to be heated over 60C.
 • plastic or non-compostable produce bags for loose fruit andvegetables (in effect from 1 September 2024). 
 • plastic or non-compostable produce bags for loose/unpackaged meat, seafood, dairy products, nuts and confectionery (in effect from 1 September 2025. Note: from this date, all compostable produce bags must also comply with design standards, which include a minimum opening size of 740mm for bags used for loose fruit and vegetables).
 • moulded expanded polystyrene packaging (in effect from 1 July 2025).

Question 2

South Australia

Accepted Answer

BANNED MARCH 2021 (https://www.replacethewaste.sa.gov.au/banned-items-2021)

• Single-use plastic straws, cutlery and stirrers, including bioplastic alternatives. Health and disability exemptions apply.

BANNED MARCH 2022 (https://www.replacethewaste.sa.gov.au/banned-items-2022)

• Expanded polystyrene cups, bowls, plates and clamshell containers. 
 • Oxo-degradable plastic products.

BANNED SEPTEMBER 2023 (https://www.replacethewaste.sa.gov.au/banned-items-2023)

• Plastic-stemmed cotton buds. Medical, scientific, forensic or law enforcement exemptions apply.
 • Single-use plastic bowls and plates. Medical, scientific, forensic or law enforcement exemptions apply.
 • Plastic pizza savers.

BANNED SEPTEMBER 2024 (https://www.replacethewaste.sa.gov.au/banned-items-2024)

• Single-use plastic beverage containers (including coffee cups) and their attachments (such as lids and beverage plugs), with an exemption for Australian Standard (AS) certified compostable hot and cold beverage cups and their lids. There is a temporary exemption until 28th February 2026 for a.) beverage containers that have an application pending decision for AS compostable certification, and/or b). beverage containers and their lids certified to ATSM D6400 (US Standard), EN 13432, TUV OK compost INDUSTRIAL or TUV OK compost HOME.
 • Single-use plastic food containers, including bowls, cups, containers and trays with lids when used for takeaway food prepared for sale and consumption on the same day, with  an exemption for Australian Standard (AS) certified compostable containers and their lids. There is a temporary exemption until 28th February 2026 for a.) food containers that have an application pending decision for AS compostable certification, and/or b). food containers and their lids certified to ATSM D6400 (US Standard), EN 13432, TUV OK compost INDUSTRIAL or TUV OK compost HOME. There is a temporary exemption until 31st August 2029 for single-use plastic transparent square or rectangular food containers with a detachable transparent lid, both of which are made wholly from polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
 • Plastic barrier bags which are not Australian Standard (AS) certified compostable, and are used to contain or protect unpackaged fresh fruit or vegetables, nuts or confectionery.
 • Thick supermarket or boutique-style plastic bags, with an exemption for AS certified compostable shopping bags clearly labelled.
 • Other expanded polystyrene (EPS) consumer food and beverage containers not banned in 2022 (e.g. gelato tubs and trays used for meat, fruit and other food items).
 • Plastic confetti.
 • Plastic balloon stick/ties.
 • Food bag tags (e.g. bread tags).

Question 3

Queensland

Accepted Answer

Under construction (information coming in 2025).

Question 4

New South Wales

Accepted Answer

Under construction (information coming in 2025).

Question 5

Victoria

Accepted Answer

Under construction (information coming in 2025).

Question 6

Australian Capital Territory

Accepted Answer

Under construction (information coming in 2025).

Question 7

Tasmania

Accepted Answer

There is currently no statewide single-use plastic ban in place in Tasmania. 
The City of Hobart has a by-law in place that bans certain single-use plastic food ware packaging. See HERE f(https://www.hobartcity.com.au/Business/Permits-licences-and-registrations/Food-and-beverage-businesses/Single-use-plastics-by-law-information)or more information.

Question 8

Northern Territory

Accepted Answer

There is currently no single-use plastic ban in place in the Northern Territory.

FURTHER INFORMATION & SUPPORT FOR SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BANS