Single-use Plastic FAQs - Next Steps: 2023, 2024 & 2025

From 1 September 2023: 

• Plastic-stemmed cotton buds
  
  
• Single-use plastic plates
  
  
• Single-use plastic bowls
  
  
• Plastic pizza savers 
  
  

Regulations will be subject to consultation from February 2023: 

• Exemptions will apply for cotton buds used for medical, forensic and scientific purposes.  
  
  
• For further information see the latest Next Steps document HERE or contact us. 
  
  
• For key updates and announcements, join the Replace the Waste mailing list HERE. 

From 1 September 2024: 

• Plastic produce bags
  (Excluding bags certified to Australian Standards for compostability [AS 4736-2006 & AS 5810-2010])
  
  

• Thick supermarket or boutique-style plastic bags
  
  
• Single-use plastic beverage containers and lids (including coffee cups) 
  
  
• Single-use plastic beverage plugs 
  
  
• Single-use plastic food containers
  
  
• Other expanded polystyrene (EPS) consumer food and beverage containers
  
  
• EPS trays used for meat, fruit and other food items for retail sale 
  
  
• Plastic balloon sticks and ties 
  
  
• Plastic confetti 
  
  
• Plastic bread tags
  
  

Consultation on regulations will be undertaken ahead of 1 September 2024.
 

For further information see the latest Next Steps document HERE or contact us. 

For key updates and announcements, join the Replace the Waste mailing list HERE. 

From 1 September 2025: 

• Plastic fruit stickers 
  
  
• Plastic soy sauce fish 
  
  
• Pre-packaged and attached prohibited single-use plastic products (e.g. straws attached to beverage containers). 
  
  

Consultation on regulations will be undertaken ahead of 1 September 2025. 

For further information see the latest Next Steps document HERE or contact us. 

For key updates and announcements, join the Replace the Waste mailing list HERE.