Check the item and the state before buying packaging
Australia does not have one uniform list of permitted single-use plastic products. Identify where your venue supplies the item, its material, its purpose and any applicable exemption before ordering a replacement.
| Jurisdiction | Verified starting point |
|---|---|
| NSW | Lightweight plastic bag ban commenced 1 June 2022; additional items and later amendments have separate rules. |
| Victoria | Specified single-use plastic products were banned from sale or supply from 1 February 2023. |
| South Australia | The earlier lightweight bag ban dates to 2009; current rules extend beyond those bags. |
Make a purchase check
- List the exact cup, lid, cutlery, bag or container and the state in which it will be supplied.
- Use that state’s current official prohibited-item list, commencement dates and exemptions.
- Ask the supplier for the material and product specification. “Compostable” is not automatic permission to supply an item.
- Check fit, temperature suitability and available disposal facilities before changing the product.
These historical examples are not a complete list of current prohibited items. For a purchase, use the current official rules for the place in which the item will be supplied.
