Guide to the ban on single-use plastic beverage containers (including cups and lids)

Replace the Waste
Guide to the ban on single-use plastic beverage containers (including cups and lids)

The following guide provides updated information on the ban on single-use plastic beverage containers (including cups and lids).

At a glance

These bans commenced on 1 September 2024:

Ban on all single-use plastic cups for all hot and cold beverages and their attachments (single-use plastic lids and beverage plugs)

The following exemptions will apply for:

Australian Standard (AS) certified compostable hot and cold beverage cups and their lids

There will be temporary exemptions until 28 February 2026 for:

Beverage containers that have application pending decision for AS compostable certification and have not yet completed the process
Hot and cold beverage cups and their lids certified to ATSM D6400 (US Standard), EN 13432, TUV OK compost INDUSTRIAL or TUV OK compost HOME

From 1 March 2026 the exemptions will only apply to AS certified compostable beverage containers that are clearly marked in a manner that indicates that they are home compostable, both home compostable and industrially compostable, or industrially compostable.

Containers of less than 60mL in volume and lids of less than 70mm diameter will not be required to be marked however manufacturers and/or suppliers must provide evidence of certification if requested by a business or the regulator.

Single-use plastic cups for hot beverages and their attachments (lids and beverage plugs)

What will be banned?

From 1 September 2024:

Single-use hot beverage cups of any material (paper, cardboard, bamboo) lined with a waterproofing polymer (including products coated aqueously) where the product is not certified to AS industrial or home compostable (AS 4736:2006 or AS 5810:2010)
Single-use plastic lids for hot beverage cups that are not certified AS industrial or home compostable (AS 4736:2006 or AS 5810:2010)
Packs containing multiple single-use plastic hot beverage cups
Packs containing multiple single-use plastic lids for hot beverage cups
Single-use plastic beverage plugs or stoppers

There will be temporary exemptions until 28 February 2026 for:

Hot beverage cups and their lids that have application pending decision for AS compostable certification and have not yet completed the process
Hot beverage cups and their lids certified to ATSM D6400 (US Standard), EN 13432, TUV OK compost INDUSTRIAL or TUV OK compost HOME

From 1 March 2026 the exemptions will only apply to AS certified compostable food and beverage containers that are clearly marked in a manner that indicates that they are home compostable, both home compostable and industrially compostable, or industrially compostable.

Hot beverage cups of less than 60mL in volume and lids of less than 70mm diameter will not be required to be marked, but must be certified.

Any type of single-use plastic plugs or stoppers will not be permitted.

What won’t be banned?

Reusable cups for hot beverages (with or without lids) made from materials other than single-use plastic such as glass, ceramic, aluminium or stainless steel, melamine and bamboo
Single-use hot beverage cups of any material (paper, cardboard, bamboo) including those lined with a water proofing polymer (including products coated aqueously) where the product is AS industrial or home compostable (AS 4736:2006 or AS 5810:2010)
Single-use plastic lids for hot beverage cups that are AS industrial or home compostable (AS 4736:2006 or AS 5810:2010)
Single-use lids for hot beverage cups that are made without any plastic lining
Single-use beverage plugs or stoppers made from wood or cardboard
Stickers or seals used to seal vents or holes to prevent leakage from a hot beverage.

For assistance identifying compliant alternative hot beverage cups and lids, Plastic Free Places have developed an online database. Note that the database is not an exhaustive list, and you are encouraged to conduct your own research and due diligence before any purchase.

Businesses are also encouraged to investigate options for transitioning to reusable hot beverage containers.

Bring your own container

In July 2022, the South Australia Civil Liability Act 1936 was changed to remove liability from food businesses such as cafés, restaurants and supermarkets when packaging and selling food and beverages to a customer in their own container or cup. This immunity extends to all employees selling the food or beverages.

This means there is better protection for businesses that choose to accept customers’ BYO containers. However, if a customer provides an unclean BYO reusable container, it is considered reasonable to refuse to fill the container.

It is important to note that businesses are still liable if the person selling the food was negligent and sold food that was knowingly unsafe to eat, or the food was subjected to a food recall at the time of sale.

For more information, visit the SA Health website.

Cold beverages

What will be banned?

From 1 September 2024

Single-use clear and coloured plastic cups of any shape for cold beverages made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) or other fossil fuel-derived plastic. This includes single-use plastic wine glasses (including when used for communion/sacramental wine and water), single-use plastic shot glasses and single-use plastic tumblers
Single-use cold beverage cups of any material (paper, cardboard, bamboo) lined with a water proofing polymer (including products aqueously coated) where the product is not certified AS industrial or home compostable (AS 4736:2006 or AS 5810:2010)
Single-use plastic lids and plastic films for cold beverage cups, such as plastic dome lids and plastic flat lids
Single-use plastic beverage cups entirely sealed with film (e.g. bubble tea)
Single-use plastic beverage plugs or stoppers
Packs containing multiple single-use plastic cups
Packs containing multiple single-use plastic lids

There will be temporary exemptions until 28 February 2026 for:

Cold beverage cups and their lids that have application pending decision for AS compostable certification and have not yet completed the process
Cold beverage cups and their lids certified to ATSM D6400 (US Standard), EN 13432, TUV OK compost INDUSTRIAL or TUV OK compost HOME

Cold beverage cups of less than 60mL in volume and lids of less than 70mm diameter will not be required to be marked however manufacturers and/or suppliers must provide evidence of certification if requested by business or the regulator (South Australian Environment Protection Authority).

Any type of single-use plastic plugs or stoppers will not be permitted.

What won’t be banned?

Reusable cups for cold beverages made from materials other than single-use plastic such as glass, ceramic, aluminium or stainless steel and bamboo
Reusable, durable, clear and coloured plastic cups for cold beverages, such as picnic sets, camping sets and reusable plastic cups with lids, e.g. melamine
Single-use clear plastic cups and lids that are AS industrial or home compostable (AS 4736:2006 or AS 5810:2010)
Single-use paper cups and lids for cold beverages including those lined with a polymer (including products aqueously coated) that are AS industrial or home compostable (AS 4736:2006 or AS 5810:2010)
Single-use lids for cold beverage cups that are made without any plastic lining
Single-use plastic cups that are sealed and contain both a food and a beverage (such as sealed cups that contain a communion wafer and communion wine)
Single-use plastic cups used to dispense medication in either liquid or pill form
Stickers or seals used to seal vents or holes to prevent leakage from a cold beverage

For assistance identifying compliant alternative cold beverage cups and lids, Plastic Free Places have developed an online database. Note that the database is not an exhaustive list, and you are encouraged to conduct your own research and due diligence before any purchase.

FAQs

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 like plastic, such as bowls, cups and bags. Labelling on these products must clearly state the item is certified compostable, preferably including the relevant AS certification logo, to assist consumers and businesses to purchase compliant products and to use appropriate disposal pathways. 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 product can be composted through a commercial composting facility. In the majority of South Australian council areas, in workplaces and schools with organics collections, and at public events, this means the material can go into the available green-lidded organics bins.
AS 5810:2010 Biodegradable plastics suitable for home or commercial/industrial composting
This certifies that the product 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 is bioplastic certified AS industrially or home compostable being permitted for food and beverage containers?
Previously the South Australian government has not allowed single-use products already banned or restricted (such as plastic straws, plastic cutlery, plastic stirrers) to be made from bioplastic. This is because, when littered, bioplastic behaves in a similar way to conventional plastic, remaining in the environment and causing harm.
Single-use food and beverage containers need to be waterproof to be safe and effective. Typically, all single-use food and beverage containers sold in Australia are either made entirely from plastic or have been lined with, or contain, a plastic polymer to ensure they are waterproof.
Under South Australian legislation, all polymers used to waterproof a container, no matter how the waterproofing is applied, are considered a plastic.
Several exemptions have been put into place for compostable food and beverage containers to ensure that there are suitable alternative products for businesses in South Australia.
- Australian Standard (AS) certified compostable hot and cold beverage cups and their lids
- AS certified compostable food containers including bowls, containers, trays and their lids when used for ready-to-eat food prepared for sale and consumption on the same day
After public consultation on the proposed regulations and feedback from businesses and manufacturers there will be temporary exemptions until 28 February 2026 for:
- Food and beverage containers that have application pending decision for AS compostable certification and have not yet completed the process
- Hot and cold beverage cups and their lids certified to ATSM D6400 (US Standard), EN 13432, TUV OK compost INDUSTRIAL or TUV OK compost HOME
- Food containers including bowls, containers, trays and their lids certified to ATSM D6400 (US Standard), EN 13432, TUV OK compost INDUSTRIAL or TUV OK compost HOME when used for takeaway food prepared for sale and consumption on the same day.
From 1 March 2026 the exemptions will only apply to AS certified compostable food and beverage containers that are clearly marked in a manner that indicates that they are home compostable, both home compostable and industrially compostable, or industrially compostable.
Plastic straws, single-use plastic cutlery and plastic stirrers made from any type of bioplastic will remain banned under current South Australian legislation, as these products do not contribute to the diversion of food waste from landfill.
What are the labelling requirements?

Labelling ensures that suppliers, business owners and consumers can easily identify AS certified compostable products and know that they can be disposed of in green-lidded organics bin systems accepting food and garden organics.

Recent research by the Compostable Coalition UK has shown that when compostable packaging is clearly labelled, it is much more likely to be correctly disposed of in the organic bin system ensuring optimal food waste recovery and lower environmental impact.

As of 1 March 2026, the regulations require that to be exempt from being a prohibited plastic product, AS certified compostable packaging must be ‘clearly labelled as, or otherwise marked in a manner that indicates that’ the product is home compostable, both home compostable and industrially compostable, or industrially compostable.

There are exemptions to the labelling requirements. Food and beverage containers of less than 60mL in volume and lids of less than 70mm diameter will not be required to be marked however manufacturers and/or suppliers may be requested to provide evidence of certification if requested by business or the regulator.

The regulations do not mandate the use of logos or specific wording. Businesses need to make a commercial decision on how they choose to label their product, taking into consideration any licensing requirements for logos and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) guidance on Making environmental claims: A guide for business.

For more information, see the Guide to labelling requirements for certified compostable items.
How do I check the certification details for compostable food and drink containers and their lids?

After 1 September 2024 and before 1 March 2026, businesses will be able to purchase and use food and drink containers and their lids that are certified compostable to Australian, European and US standards. These may or may not have clear labelling.
Businesses are encouraged to check with their supplier for evidence of certification for each of the products that they are purchasing.
Suppliers will be required to provide evidence of certification to businesses and to the regulator (South Australian Environment Protection Authority) if requested.
Where the supplier has an application for the product pending decision for AS compostable certification and have not yet completed the process, this information should be provided to the purchasing business or the regulator on request.
From 1 March 2026 the exemptions will only apply to AS certified compostable food and beverage containers that are clearly marked in a manner that indicates that they are home compostable, both home compostable and industrially compostable, or industrially compostable.
What are the options for reusable cups and containers?
Reusable options may take a number of forms including (but not limited to):
- requiring customers to bring their own food or beverage container to be filled by the business and taken away
- providing a reusable food or beverage container that can be returned to the business by the customer through a local return system or through a network of businesses
- providing a cup library where regular customers can borrow and use reusable cups and then return them
- using a reusable food or beverage container subscription scheme allowing cups to be returned to the business through a network of businesses
- creating a local reusable food or beverage container system in a precinct or at an event (for example, airports, hospitals, educational institutions, stadiums, festivals, concerts or fetes)
- encouraging customers to consume their purchases on the premises so reusable food and beverage containers can be collected and washed on-site.
For more information about encouraging and using reusable food and beverages look at the guides provided on the Plastic Free Places website.
Bring your own (BYO) containers legislation in South Australia

In July 2022, the South Australia Civil Liability Act 1936 was changed to remove liability from food businesses such as cafés, restaurants and supermarkets when packaging and selling food to a customer in their own container. This immunity extends to all employees selling the food.
This means there is better protection for businesses that choose to accept customers’ BYO containers. However, if a customer provides an unclean BYO reusable container, it is considered reasonable to refuse to fill the container.
It is important to note that businesses are still liable if the person selling the food was negligent and sold food that was knowingly unsafe to eat, or the food was subjected to a food recall at the time of sale.
For more information go to Bring your own (BYO) containers | SA Health.
What can I do with excess stock of non-compliant compostable containers from 1 March 2026?
Please contact South Australia’s Environment Protection Authority via email for further advice on managing excess stock of:
- AS certified compostable food or beverage containers (or lids of these containers) that do not meet the labelling requirements
- compostable plastic food or beverage containers (or lids of these containers) that aren't certified to Australian standards but are certified compostable to one or more of the following standards:
  - ATSM D6400 (US Standard)
  - EN 13432
  - TUV OK compost INDUSTRIAL
  - or TUV OK compost HOME.