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PLASTIC FREE SA

Our flagship program in South Australia

2019 - 2025

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

South Australia has a strong history of leadership in waste management and was well placed to announce actions to be taken on single-use plastics in 2019.

Plastic Free SA was created in 2019 to provide on-ground support for participating businesses and community sites to make the transition away from single-use plastics towards reusable or compostable alternatives.

Funded by Green Industries SA and delivered by Boomerang Alliance under the national Plastic Free Places program, the project piloted a plastic-free precinct model, which quickly grew into a program supporting businesses across South Australia as further bans on single-use plastics items were implemented, providing advice on compliant items and opportunities to go beyond the bans.

The program has helped businesses with practical, hands-on support to move away from problematic plastics with confidence and navigate new plastics regulations to implement compliant alternatives and reduce single-use items.

Over six and a half years, Plastic Free SA supported cafés, precincts, councils, suppliers, major venues and community groups across South Australia.

Through education, audits, system improvements and real-world trials, the project helped remove barriers to change, grow reuse and build lasting, community-led culture change across the state.

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

OUR IMPACT

Plastic eliminated 11 Nov, 2019 - 31 Dec, 2025 (end of program):

277

Business

members

76

Plastic Free Champions*

18,267,713

Items of plastic eliminated

*Plastic Free Champions are members that have eliminated all of our key plastic items (straws, coffee cups & lids, takeaway containers & lids, foodware (cutlery, plates, cups etc), water bottles & bags).

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

A selection of achievements over 6 years

PACKAGING SWAPS

We helped businesses replace millions of plastic items, like cups, containers, cutlery and straws, with reusable or certified compostable alternatives.

CLEANING UP SUPPLIER CLAIMS

We helped suppliers to correct product misinformation and mislabelling to make it easier for businesses to find the right solutions.

BETTER BIN SYSTEMS

We supported venues like the SA Museum Cafe and Adelaide Central Markets to install well-signed organics bins and container collections.

REUSABLE SYSTEMS IN ACTION

We helped many cafes across Greater Adelaide introduce mug libraries, proving reusables can work in everyday, high-traffic settings.

SURF CLUBS LEADING CHANGE

We helped Brighton, Glenelg and other SA surf lifesaving clubs cut out key single-use items and triall reusable cups at events.

EASY BAN COMPLIANCE

As SA rolled out new plastics bans, we gave businesses hands-on support, helping them transition smoothly through the changes.

BIG VENUES, BIG IMPACT

We guided large venues like Adelaide Airport, Adelaide Zoo and the SA Museum Cafe to adopt compliant products, and improve waste systems.

BETTER COMPOSTING

Working directly with local composters, we clarified what could be accepted in SA composting facilities.

WHAT OUR MEMBERS SAY

Joining the Plastic Free SA program has been a great experience for our store. Even before the ban we were already reusing boxes instead of giving out plastic bags but the program helped us go further by cutting down even more plastic usage. The support, ideas and signage have been really helpful for educating our customers. Since most of our customers are from overseas, many aren’t familiar with local recycling or sustainable options, so it can be a challenge, but it’s definitely possible. Step by step, we’re making a difference together.

– Latino House, Plastic Free SA Member