The following guide provides information about the proposed ban on plastic produce stickers, plastic soy sauce fish containers, attached straws and cutlery, and expanded polystyrene (EPS) cup and bowl packaging, as drafted in the draft Single-Use and Other Plastic Products (Waste Avoidance) (Prohibited Plastic Products) Amendment Regulations 2024.
At a glance
These bans will commence on 1 September 2025:
- Ban on non-Australian Standard (AS) certified compostable plastic labels affixed to fruit or vegetables for sale in South Australia
- Ban on plastic soy sauce fish containers
- Removal of exclusion for attached straws and cutlery, expanded polystyrene (EPS) cup and bowl packaging
What you need to know
What are AS certified compostable products?
Certified compostable products are made of materials that do not leave behind any toxic material, breaking down readily in a commercial, or sometimes home, composting system. This can include items that look similar to plastic such as bowls, cups and bags. These products should state that they are ‘certified compostable’ and include one of the following logos. Australia has two of the highest standards in the world when it comes to certification:
AS 4736:2006 Biodegradable plastics suitable for industrial/compostable composting and other microbial treatment
This certifies the material can be composted through a commercial composting facility. In the majority of South Australian council areas, workplace and school organics collections, and at public events, this means the material can go into the green-lidded organics bin.
AS 5810:2010 Biodegradable plastics suitable for home or commercial/industrial composting
This certifies that the material can be composted in your home compost bin. It is also suitable to go into a green-lidded organics bin.
What is the difference between Australia's industrial composting standard (AS 4736:2006) and Australia's home composting standard (AS 5810:2010)?
Commercial composting facilities generate much more heat than a home compost bin, and use oxygen and water to break down materials into compost. Both AS 4736:2006 and AS 5810:2010 certified compostable products can be processed at commercial composting facilities in South Australia.
As home composting facilities do not reach the same high temperatures that are reached at commercial composting facilities, only AS 5810:2010 certified compostable products are suited to home compost systems.
Why are other compostability standards and certifications not being accepted?
While there are other compostability certifications, including from the USA and Europe, these standards are not the same as AS 4736:2006 and AS 5810:2010, which include an additional requirement of a worm toxicity test. This additional testing component is to ensure that AS certified compostable items in the compost has no toxic effect on plants and earthworms.
Plastic produce stickers
South Australia will be the first Australian jurisdiction to ban plastic produce stickers that are not AS certified compostable. The ban will apply to plastic labels affixed to fruit or vegetables for sale in South Australia, but will not apply to fruit produced in South Australia and sold into other markets outside the state.
More than 80% of South Australians have access to a green-lidded organics bin service, where household food waste should be placed. In addition, many South Australians are keen home composters. While plastic produce stickers should be removed, this does not always happen. The ban will ensure that plastic produce stickers do not turn up as a contaminant in either commercial or home compost outputs.
What will be banned?
- Plastic produce stickers that are not AS certified compostable (such as conventional plastic stickers on produce such as apples, pears, avocados, bananas, citrus fruits, and pineapples)
What won’t be banned?
- AS certified compostable plastic produce stickers
- Paper produce stickers
- Labelling produce using laser or similar technology
Plastic soy sauce fish containers
Small/single serve soy sauce containers are most commonly found in the shape of fish, but can also be pigs, small rectangular receptacles, and even miniature plastic bottles. It is intended that the ban will cover all shapes of single-use rigid plastic containers, with lids, under 30 mL that are used for soy sauce and provided with takeaway foods (such as sushi).
What will be banned?
- Plastic soy sauce fish and other shaped containers with a lid
- Plastic soy sauce containers with a lid, containing less than 30mL of soy sauce
What won’t be banned?
- Sachets of soy sauce and all other condiments of any size
- Squeezy packs of soy sauce and all other condiments of any size
- Pre-packaged off-premise containers of all other condiments
Small cup-shaped plastic sauce containers (with or without lids) that are filled on-premise (that is, not pre-packaged offsite) will already have been banned from 1 September 2024 (see the guideline on food and beverage containers).
Single-use plastic drinking straws and single-use plastic cutlery attached to a food or beverage product
There is an exclusion for single-use plastic drinking straws and single-use plastic cutlery attached to a food or beverage product to enable or assist with consumption of the food or beverage. This will be removed from 1 September 2025.
Removal of this exemption is in line will similar bans being put into place by New South Wales (from 1 January 2025) and by Victoria (from 1 January 2026).
What will be banned?
- Plastic spoons or plastic forks attached to a food container
- Plastic drinking straws attached to a drink container, for example juice drink containers
What won’t be banned?
|  |
EPS cups and EPS bowls that form part of food or beverage packaging
From 1 September 2025, the exclusion in place for pre-packaged EPS cups and EPS bowls will be removed. This includes EPS that forms an integral part of the packaging of pre-packaged single serve food or beverage products that are either ready for immediate consumption or consumption after cooling or heating of the contents.
This is in line with similar bans being put into place by New South Wales (from 1 January 2025) and by Victoria (from 1 January 2026).
What will be banned?
- Pre-packaged EPS cups or bowls containing noodles with flavouring
- Pre-packaged EPS cups or bowls containing a meal
What won’t be banned?
- Plastic packaging that is heat resistant and is not comprised of EPS used for pre-packaged instant noodles, instant pasta, and so on
