What single use plastics are banned in Australia?

Since 2021, the Australian states have been introducing bans on the sale and giving away of certain single-use plastics.  In fact, you might be surprised at just how many items are banned. 

There has been a slow, momentous change that is game-changing for the planet.  The extraction of petrochemicals to produce plastics that pollute our planet forever is a major contributor to global warming.  These disposable plastic items are used fleetingly for convenience, but the long-lasting impact is the opposite of convenience!

I founded Biome 18 years ago in 2003, in part out of despair about what was happening with our throw-away plastic culture.  On reflection, I am incredibly proud of this generation for reversing the direction the world was headed.

In Australia, the National Waste Policy Action Plan has identified ‘problematic and unnecessary’ plastic product types to be phased out by 2025.  However, this is a voluntary commitment and it is up to the States to enact legal requirements.  Disposable plastic items targetted include:

1. lightweight plastic bags
2. plastic products misleadingly termed as ‘degradable’
3. plastic straws
4. plastic utensils and stirrers
5. coffee cups containing plastic
6. cotton bud sticks
7. plastic takeaway containers
8. expanded polystyrene (EPS) food containers (e.g. cups and clamshells)
9. EPS consumer goods packaging (loose fill and moulded)
10. microbeads in personal health care products

The Biome community has long been across the reusable and plastic free alternatives like these:

1. 

 

 

What about degradable and compostable single-use plastics?

The so-called degradable or oxo-degradable and compostable plastic versions of these items are problematic and not a viable alternative.

Degradable or oxo-degradable bags just degrade into smaller plastic particles. They trick us into thinking they're not harming the planet, but the plastic is still there, just in tiny particles, or micro-plastics, which are harmful to our ecosystem.

And, compostable plastics can not be recycled with the usual kerbside plastic recycling, and they are only compostable in an industrial facility, which very few people have access to. 

The Victorian government has recognised this with the ban introduced on 1 February 2023, which includes conventional, degradable, and compostable plastic versions of the banned items.

What about disposable plastic water bottles?

Notice that disposable plastic water bottles are not on the list yet.  There is a strong lobby from the big beverage industry players such as Coca-Cola fighting against this.

What is banned in each state?

The Australian Marine Conservation Society has produced this excellent summary chart. The green ticks are the great news, that item has already been banned in that state!  South Australia was first to the party in 2021.