Single-use plastics


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Single-use plastics

Single-use plastics may be cheap and convenient, but they are extremely harmful to our environment and they don’t break down in landfill.

Some single-use plastic items are banned in the ACT. Businesses, organisations and community groups can't supply banned items and there are penalties if they do. The ban does not apply to items you use at home.

Single-use plastic items purchased before the ban are still permitted for personal use. Examples include a family picnic or school lunchboxes.

Single-use plastics banned in the ACT

The ACT was one of the first places in Australia to pass a law to reduce single-use plastics, the Plastic Reduction Act 2021. It was replaced by the Circular Economy Act 2023, which will guide future efforts to reduce single-use plastics.

The following items cannot be supplied by businesses, organisations and community groups in the ACT. This includes any items purchased before the ban.

  • Single-use plastic cutlery, stirrers, plates and bowls, including paper and cardboard items that are plastic-lined.
  • Single-use plastic straws (with exemptions for those who need them due to disability or health needs).
  • Plastic bags greater than 35 microns in thickness which are often heavyweight and boutique plastic bags. This includes all plastic shopping bags with handles.
  • Expanded polystyrene loose-fill packaging, trays and takeaway food and beverage containers.
  • Cotton buds with plastic sticks.
  • Oxo-degradable plastics (plastics which break down into ‘microplastics’ and don’t completely decompose such as pet waste bags and rubbish bags labelled as degradable).
  • Plastic microbeads in rinse-off personal care and cleaning products designed to be rinsed off.
  • Bioplastics (a type of plastic made from plant-based resources that can still cause damage to the environment when littered).

Exemptions to the single-use plastic ban

There are some items that are exempt from the ban. These include:

  • single-use plastic bowls designed or intended to have a spill-proof lid
  • plastic bowls and cotton buds with plastic sticks used for scientific, forensic or medical purposes
  • single-use plastic items integrated into food or drink packaging by a machine automated process, such as a plastic straw attached to the side of a juice box or a plastic spoon packaged with a yogurt tub.

Single-use plastic straws can be supplied to those who need them for medical or health reasons. Healthcare settings such as hospitals can display and supply single-use plastic straws. Businesses can supply plastic straws on request but cannot display them.

Banned single-use plastic cutlery can also be supplied in certain detainee or mental health patient settings for safety reasons.

Advice for businesses and community organisations

The single-use plastics ban applies to all business and community organisations. This includes:

  • restaurants, cafes and food outlets
  • supermarkets and convenience stores
  • schools
  • sports clubs
  • not-for-profit organisations

Ask your supplier if the items ordered meet the requirements of the ACT’s legislation. You should also ask if the items contain any bioplastics, glues or other additives or bonding agents. If they do, these items are also banned.

Avoiding the use of a disposable item is the best environmental outcome. Where this is not possible, reusable or single-use alternatives are available.

There are a number of ways for businesses to save costs and reduce environmental impact. These include:

  • offer items such as cutlery on request as some customers may not need disposable cutlery
  • ask customers if they need disposable items such as straws and bags
  • offer washable, reusable alternatives for sit-in customers
  • offer loyalty points for customers who bring their own reusable items.

Please see the Circular Economy Act 2023 for more information about your responsibilities.

If you are an ACT business, community organisation or institution and need some help, call the ACT single-use plastics hotline on 1800 844 946 or email your question to singleuseplastics@act.gov.au

Items purchased before the ban

Businesses, community groups and institutions cannot supply banned single-use plastics, even if they were purchased before the ban.

These items cannot be recycled in the ACT due to their shape, size or type of plastic.

Some of the ways to use up existing stock include:

  • speak with your supplier and ask if you can swap the items for compliant items
  • if you have stores in other states, see if you can move the items to a state where the items are currently not banned
  • take home as the items can still be used for personal use.

Snapshot: National roadmap - Harmonising action on problematic and unnecessary plastics

At the  Environment Ministers Meeting on the 10 December 2024, as reflected in the meeting Communique, all Ministers, except Queensland, agreed to:

If you are an ACT business, community organisation or institution and have questions about the National Roadmap, please email TCCS.SingleUsePlastics@act.gov.au

Related links:

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.

To see how we are building stronger relationships with the Traditional Custodians of the ACT view the Reconciliation Action Plan.