Kick Start Your Plastic Free Journey

This article has been provided by the team at FPA Envirochoice.

State governments in Australia have planned to implement or have already implemented a single use plastic ban. This can get quite confusing at times, trying to figure out what is/isn’t banned and what replacements are acceptable. We have laid out all relevant information for each state, so we have taken all the guesswork out and you just have the facts. Let us help make the transition to plastic free packaging a smooth one!

State Governments across Australia have begun to introduce and implement their bills for banning problematic single use plastic. All states are different, the implementation dates vary and the products that are banned differ. These legislations will prohibit the sale, supply and distribution of problematic single use products. There will also be exemptions to this ban, mainly within the healthcare and disability sectors, and some exemptions existing in the education sector also.

What makes packaging problematic?

According to APCO, problematic plastic packaging is currently difficult to collect or recover for reuse, recycling or composting. A material that hinders, disrupts or obstructs opportunities to recover other materials or resources. It makes a significant contribution to the plastic litter problem. They are made with PFAS or BPA, it contains or has contained hazardous chemicals or materials that pose a significant risk to human health or the environment. To read more about problematic plastic packaging, click here.

It’s important to be aware of what is happening in your state because many state governments are issuing fines for those companies who sell, supply or distribute any of the banned products (outside of those industries/businesses who are exempt).

The main reason for these legislations is to limit the effect single use plastic has on our environment and the amount of waste than ends up in landfill, causes pollution, litter and harms marine life.

Click the buttons below to download a PDF version of the list of the bans per state and the replacements we at FPA Envirochoice can offer you.

• ACT Ban
• NSW Ban
• QLD Ban
• WA Ban
• VIC Ban

New South Wales

Proposed Bans

1 June 2022

• Lightweight plastic bags

1 November 2022

• Lightweight Plastic Bags
• Plastic straws
• Plastic cutlery
• Plastic stirrers
• Plastic plates
• Plastic bowls (unless plastic bowls are designed or intended to have a spill proof lid)
• Foam bowls
• Foam clams
• Foam plates
• Foam cups
• Microbeads
• Cotton buds

Replacements

• Paper straws
• Wooden stirrers
• Heavyboard PLA lined containers
• Envirochoice & Capri paper bags
• Supa flute range
• Natural fibre plates/bowls/clams
• Envirochoice hot cup range
• Wooden cutlery

For more information from the New South Wales Government, click here.

Victoria

Proposed Bans

From 1 February 2022 (in Government Department) and 1 February 2023 (General Public)

• Plastic straws
• Plastic stirrers
• Foam food and drink containers
• Cotton bud sticks
• Plastic cutlery
• Plastic plates

Replacements

• Envirochoice Paper Straws
• Envirochoice Supa Flute Range
• Envirochoice Hot Cup Range
• Envirochoice Heavyboard PLA Lined Containers
• Capri Wooden Stirrers
• Envirochoice Natural Fibre Range
• Envirochoice Wooden Cutlery
• Capri Paper Plate
• Envirochoice Natural Fibre Plate
• Palm Leaf Plate

For more information from the Victorian Government, click here.

Queensland

Bans in Place

From 1 September 2021

• Plastic straws
• Plastic stirrers
• Foam takeaway containers
• Foam cups
• Plastic cutlery
• Plastic plates and bowls

Replacements

• Envirochoice Paper Straws
• Envirochoice Supa Flute Range
• Envirochoice Hot Cup Range
• Capri Hot Cup Range
• Envirochoice Heavyboard PLA Lined Containers
• Capri Wooden Stirrers
• Envirochoice Natural Fibre Containers
• Envirochoice Wooden Cutlery
• Capri Paper Plate
• Envirochoice Natural Fibre Plates & Bowl
• Palm leaf Plates & Bowls

For more information from the QLD Government, click here.

South Australia

Bans in Place

From 1 March 2021

• Plastic cutlery
• Plastic stirrers
• Plastic straws
• PLA equivalent also banned

Early 2022

• Foam cups, bowls, plates and clamshells
• All oxo-biodegradable plastic

Replacements

• Envirochoice Paper Straws
• Envirochoice Hot Cup Range
• Envirochoice Supa Flute
• Envirochoice Heavyboard PLA Lined Containers
• Envirochoice Wooden Cutlery
• Capri Wooden Stirrers
• Envirochoice Natural Fibre Bowls & Plates & Clams
• Palm leaf Bowls & Plates
• Capri Paper Plates

For more information from the SA Government, click here.

Western Australia

Bans in Place

1 July 2022

• Plastic Cutlery
• Plastic Drink Stirrer
• Plastic Plates
• Plastic Food Container (only if served without a lid. If a container comes with a lid, it is not banned)
• Expanded Polystyrene Food Container (With or without a lid)
• Expanded Polystyrene Lid
• Tray made from Expanded Polystyrene (Banned unless is used for meat or seafood application)
• Plastic Bowl (only if served without a lid. If served with lid, this item is not banned)
• Plastic bag with handles
• Plastic Straws

1 October 2022

• Plastic Cold Cups

Replacements

• Envirochoice Paper Straws
• Envirochoice Supa Flute Range
• Envirochoice Hot Cup Range
• Envirochoice Heavyboard PLA Lined Containers
• Capri Wooden Stirrers
• Moisture Lock Trays
• Envirochoice & Capri Paper Bags
• Envirochoice Wooden Cutlery
• Envirochoice Natural Fibre Plates & Bowls & Clams
• Palm Leaf Plates & Bowls
• Capri Paper Plates

For more information from the WA Government, click here.

Northern Territory

Bans in Place

1 January 2019 (Council land only)

• Plastic straws
• Plastic cutlery
• Plastic stirrers
• Plastic plates and bowls
• Coffee cups
• Smoothie cups
• Takeaway containers

Replacements

• Envirochoice Paper Straws
• Envirochoice Hot Cup Range
• Envirochoice PLA Cups
• Envirochoice Supa Flute Range
• Envirochoice Heavyboard PLA Lined Containers
• Envirochoice Wooden Cutlery
• Capri Wooden Stirrers
• Natural Fibre Plates & Bowls & Clams
• Palm Leaf Plates & Bowls
• Capri Paper Plates

For more information from the NT Government, please click here.

Tasmania

Bans in Place

 1 July 2021 (City of Hobart)

• Plastic straws
• Plastic cutlery
• Plastic stirrers
• Plastic plates and bowls
• PE lined cups
• Plastic lined cups except for compostable products
• Foam takeaway food and beverage containers

Replacements

• Envirochoice Paper Straws
• Envirochoice Hot Cup Range
• Envirochoice Supa flute Range
• Envirochoice Heavyboard PLA Lined Containers
• Envirochoice Wooden Cutlery
• Capri Wooden Stirrers
• Envirochoice Natural Fibre Plates & Bowls & Clams
• Palm Leaf Plates & Bowls
• Capri Paper Plates
• Envirochoice PLA Cups

For more information from the TAS Government, click here.

Australian Capital Territory

Bans in Place

1 July 2021

• Plastic stirrers
• Plastic cutlery
• Foam food and beverage containers

Proposed Bans

1 July 2022

• Plastic straws (with appropriate exclusions)
• Plastic fruit and vegetable “barrier bags”
• Cotton buds with plastic sticks
• All oxo-degradable plastic products such as degradable plastic bags and degradable dog waste bags. These have additives that enable the plastic to break down into tiny fragments (microplastics) which do not completely decompose and are harmful to the environment.

Replacements

• Envirochoice Supa Flute Clams
• Envirochoice Heavyboard PLA Lined Containers
• Capri Kraft Round Takeaway Bowl
• Envirochoice Hot Cup Range
• Capri Plastic Plates & Bowls
• Capri Paper Plates
• Envirochoice Natural Fibre Plates & Bowls & Clams
• Capri PP Containers
• Envirochoice Fresh View Containers
• Capri Show Bowls
• Capri Foil Containers
• Capri Hot Cups
• Capri Wooden Stirrers
• Capri Wooden Cutlery
• Envirochoice Paper Straws
• Envirochoice Paper Bags
• Capri Paper Bags

For more information from the ACT Government, click here.