Everything you need to know about single-use plastic bans
Certain kinds of single-use plastic products are banned across Australia (Tasmania is the only state that hasn't committed to a ban). Lightweight plastic bags are banned in every state and territory, including Tasmania. Bans on other kinds of single-use plastics and timelines for phasing them out depend on which part of Australia you live in.
*The nation-wide ban on lightweight plastic bags does not apply to bags used as barriers (produce and deli bags, bin liners, human or animal waste bags, and bags used to contain items for medical purposes).
What are the bans?
Single-use plastics refer to any plastic product that is designed to be used once and then thrown away. Common single-use plastic items include plastics bags, cutlery, straws, plastic and polystyrene takeaway containers, and coffee cups. While single-use plastics are convenient, they use up huge amounts of resources like water and oil to produce, only to be used once and then throw away. This is not only a terrible misuse of our precious and finite resources, but the products also create massive amounts of waste, litter, and pollution.
Bans on single-use plastics in Australia
Note: There is a single-use plastics ban in place in the City of Hobart, Tasmania.
Click on your state or territory to visit your state government's website for details about prohibited items, timelines, and suggestions for alternatives.
Alternatives for households
If you live in an area with a ban in place, here are some helpful tips on environmentally responsible alternatives for the general public. Remember, reusable options should always be your first choice. Reducing your use of single-use and disposable products, whether they are made from plastic or another type of material, is always the best option!
Use reusable bags like totes for as long as possible. A UK study found cotton bags should be used at least 131 times to ensure they have lower global warming potential than conventional plastic bags that are not reused.
Use heavy-duty plastic and green bags (woven polypropylene) as many times as possible. Some councils may have specialised recycling services for these bags once they have reached their end of life. Check directly with your council.
Paper bags are also an option for lighter items. Ideally, these bags should be reused before recycling. However, if the bag has been contaminated with food or grease, it should not be put in the recycling bin.
If you love using straws, consider carrying a reusable straw when you go out. There are lots of products available that come with a handy carrier pouch and straw cleaner.
Bamboo and paper straws cannot be recycled. Single-use straws are still available to people who rely on them due to disability or medical needs.
Plastic plates and cutlery are no longer available for purchase in supermarkets in some areas of Australia, so if you're keen on picnics, consider purchasing a portable reusable cutlery set.
If you're buying disposable cutlery made from bamboo or wood, you may be able to compost it after use (compostable plastics are also banned in many areas). If your council has supplied you with a FOGO (Food Organics, Garden Organics) bin, make sure the products are accepted and certified compostable. If you have a compost at home, always check the products are certified Home Compostable to the Australian standard.
Reusable silicone buds or swabs that come in a travel case are available. These items cannot be recycled, so they should be reused as many times as possible, ideally for years. In the absence of a life cycle assessment that compares the environmental impact of reusable silicone buds to disposable buds, it's unclear which is the better option.
Bamboo stick cotton buds are available, but they cannot be recycled, so it's best to avoid them altogether if possible. If you have a compost system at home, make sure these products are certified Home Compostable. Beware misleading terms like 'biodegradable', which has no industry standards or certifications.
Drinking your coffee at home or in the cafe from crockery is the best way to reduce waste. There are also many types of reusable coffee cups available, some of which are even made from recycled coffee cups such as rCUP.
If your cafe uses compostable coffee cups, these cannot be recycled. If your council has provided you with a FOGO (Food Organics, Garden Organics) bin, make sure the products are accepted and certified compostable. If you have a compost at home, make sure the cup has the Home Compostable symbol on it before putting it in your compost bin.
Alternatives for businesses
It's important to do your research to make sure you're making the best decision for your business or workplace when considering alternatives to single-use plastics. What may work well for one organisation, might not be appropriate for another.
Consider reducing the consumption of single-use items and whether switching to reusables is right for your business. The NSW Government has developed a helpful guide for businesses with suggestions for alternatives.
Are compostables right for me?
Compostable packaging is made of raw materials like paper, wood, bamboo or plant-based materials like corn that will decompose under specific conditions so it can be turned into compost to fertilise plants and vegetation.
It's important to consider your organisation's unique circumstances before deciding to use compostable products. Why? Some states are implementing bans on certain compostable plastic items, and you must have access to an appropriate composting facility that accepts certified compostables. Compostable products that end up in landfill are not necessarily better for the environment as they produce the potent greenhouse gas methane when they decompose. Most will not be recyclable either.
If you work in the food service industry and use takeaway packaging, compostable products may be a good option for you if recycling is not an option due to food contamination. However, access to industrial composting services is needed for you and/or your customers.
Ask yourself the following questions before switching to compostable products:
- Do I or my customers have access to an industrial composting facility, or does my council have a Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) service that accepts these products?
- Are the products 'home compostable'? If they are not, they will require an industrial facility to be composted (i.e., they will not fully break down in a home compost system).
- Are the products certified compostable to the Australian standards (Industrially Compostable Certification AS4736-2006 or Home Compostable Certification AS5810-2010)?
- If the packaging is made from paper, wood, or bamboo, have the materials been certified by responsible sources, e.g., Forest Stewardship Certification (FSC) or the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)?
Tip! The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation provides a comprehensive decision making tool for compostable packaging in their Considerations for Compostable Plastic Packaging guide.
What does biodegrable mean?
'Biodegradable' refers to a material's ability to decompose or break down by living organisms. There are no industry standards or certifications for the term. Products making this claim may degrade (as will most items over time), but without a specified timeframe, this term can be very misleading. A piece of plastic that is biodegradable could take hundreds of years to degrade, which is not a good environmental outcome.
Sometimes these products can contain additives that allow the plastics to break down faster into tiny fragments called 'microplastics', which do not completely decompose. Whether these products end up in landfill or they are littered, once they break down, the tiny fragments of plastics can potentially enter and negatively impact our natural ecosystems. In landfill they will also produce methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than CO2. If they are collected for composting or recycling, biodegradable products that are not compostable will contaminate the organics and recycling streams.
Products claiming to be biodegradable should therefore be considered with caution. If you are unsure about a product, consider contacting the manufacturer for more information.
Oxo-degradable products should not be used
Oxo-degradable plastics contain additives that are supposed to help them degrade faster. Over time, these products will also break down into microplastics and survive in the environment indefinitely. These products are being phased out both internationally and locally.
