CURRENT STATUS OF PLASTIC LEGISLATION - SEPT 2025 status
last updated: 1 Sept 2025
GENERAL UTENSILS FOODWARE (without lids)
EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE (EPS) OTHER FOAMED PLASTIC
BAGS
Consultation closed, awaiting govt update.
No further bans announced
Ban rollout underway. New produce/barrier bags standard
consultation ongoing, awaiting next steps
Bans in effect. Stage 3 delayed.
NSW
NT
QLD
SA
TAS
VIC
WA
FEDERAL AUST
NZ
TBC
varied
varied, see website
TBC
banned
varied. Mostly accepted
recyclable preferred
varied
Plastic straws Plastic cutlery Plastic stirrers Plastic plates Plastic bowls without lids Plastic containers without lids Polymer-coated paper plates
Jul-22
Nov-22
2025 TBC
Sep-21
Mar-21
Hobart ban, TAS 2025 TBC
Feb-23
Jul-22
Jul-23
Jul-21
Nov-22
2025 TBC
Sep-21
Mar-21
Hobart ban, TAS 2025 TBC
Feb-23
Jul-22
Jul-23 incl. integrated
Jul-22
Nov-22
2025 TBC
Sep-21
Mar-21
Hobart ban, TAS 2025 TBC
Feb-23
Jul-22
Oct-22
Jul-23
Nov-22
2025 TBC
Sep-21
Sep-23
Feb-23
Jul-22
Jul-23 *see details
Nov-22
2025 TBC
Sep-21
Sep-23
Hobart ban, TAS 2025 TBC
Jul-22
Jul-23
Sep-24
Hobart ban, TAS 2025 TBC
Jul-22
Jul-23
end-2027 exemption ends 31 Oct 2024
? 2025 TBC
no
?
How to get help: Government website:
exemption ends 31 Oct 2024
exempt
exemption ends 31 Oct 2024
TAS 2025 TBC
no
exemption ends 31 Oct 2024 no
Jul-22 no Jul-22
Hobart ban, TAS 2025 TBC
allowed if fibre based
yes
end-2027
Sep-24
Hobart ban, TAS 2025 TBC
Sep-24
end-2027
Sep-24
Hobart ban, TAS 2025 TBC
Sep-24
end-2027
Sep-24
Hobart ban, TAS 2025 TBC
Sep-24
end-2027
Sep-24
Hobart ban, TAS 2025 TBC
Sep-24
Exempt until Sep 2029
Sep-24
Exempt until Mar 2026
Exempt until Sept 2026
Sep-25
label 2027, recyclable 2030
Hobart ban, TAS 2025 TBC Hobart ban, TAS 2025 TBC
Ban end 2030
Ban postponed
TAS 2025 TBC
Ban end 2025
Sep-24
TAS 2025 TBC
Postponed to Jul-28 Oct-22 Oct-22 TBC
Ban end 2025
TAS 2025 TBC
Ban end 2025 exempt
exemption ends 31 Dec 2024
2018
2017
2012
Sep-23
TAS 2025 TBC
exemption ends 31 Dec 2025
exemption ends 31 Aug 2025
Hobart ban, TAS 2025 TBC
exemption ends 31 Dec 2025
varied
some integrated included
2018
1977
2023
2023
2020
2025 TBC
tether end 2030 TBC (see paper)
Sep-24
end-2027
Sep-24
Hobart ban, TAS 2025 TBC
Oct-22
labelling end 2027
Sep-24
Hobart ban, TAS 2025 TBC
Mar-24
Sep-24
Hobart ban, TAS 2025 TBC
Jul-22
end-2027 Nov-22
2025 TBC
Sep-21
Mar-22
TAS 2025 TBC
Feb-23
Jul-22
2022
Oct-22
Jul-22
Nov-22
2025 TBC
Sep-21
Mar-22
TAS 2025 TBC
Feb-23
Sep-23
2022
Oct-22
Jul-23
Ban end 2025
2025 TBC
Sep-24
TAS 2025 TBC
Jul-22 / Sep-23
2022
Oct-22
currently exempt
exemption ends 31 Dec 2024
2025 TBC
Sep-21
Sep-29
TAS 2025 TBC
exempt
Jul-22
2022
Oct-22
exemption ends 31 Dec 2025
Sep-25
TAS 2025 TBC
exemption ends 31 Dec 2025
TAS 2025 TBC
Sep-23
2025
TAS 2025 TBC
Jul-25
2025
TAS 2025 TBC
Sep-23
TAS 2025 TBC
Jul-25
Sep-24
TAS 2025 TBC
Jul-22
Jul-19
Sep-24
TAS 2025 TBC
Jul-22
Jul-23 (<70um)
exemption ends 31 Dec 2024 Jul-23
Ban end 2025
2025 TBC
Ban end 2025
2025 TBC
Sep-23
Ban end 2025 Ban end 2025 cert. compostable exempt Jan-24
design std end 2025
Jan-24
design std end 2025
2025 TBC
Reusable Std by Sep-23
Jan-24
Jul-22
Mar-24
Oct-22 Oct-22
cert. compostable exempt
Sep-24
Jul-22
Unclear (see paper)
Sep-24
TAS 2025 TBC
Sep-24 plus new design std Oct-25
Unclear (see paper)
Postponed to Sep 2027
TAS 2025 TBC
Oct-26*
Ban end 2025
Mar-22
TAS 2025 TBC
Sep-23
Sep-23
TAS 2025 TBC
Jul-23
TBC
Oct-22
2025, 2027 (see paper) Jul-22
Nov-22
Jul-23
Nov-22
Sep-23 2025 TBC
Ban end 2025
Feb-23
Sep-23
Sep-23
TAS 2025 TBC
Sep-23
Sep-23
banned
Jul-22
Ban end 2025
Sep-24
TAS 2025 TBC
Sep-24
TAS 2025 TBC
Oct-22 voluntary code
Jun-18
TBC (see paper) end 2027 various items
barrier bag std 2025
Banned soon (regs finalised)
Contact govt
Contact govt
Contact govt
ACT City Services
NSW EPA plastics bans
Circular Economy Strategy
Dedicated business website: Other resources:
exempt
label 2027, recyclable 2030
Non-compostable produce bags (loose fruit, veg, nuts, confectionary)
Plastics with 'degradable' additives Intentionally added PFAS / harmful chemicals Cotton buds with plastic shafts Plastic microbeads - personal care & cleaning rinse-off Balloon releases Balloon ties or sticks Plastic confetti / table scatters Plastic bait bags Cigarette butts Washing machine filters Labelling requirements Mandated packaging design standards
2025 TBC
no exemption ends 31 Oct 2024
no
Plastic bowls with lids Plastic takeaway containers with lids/windows/seals Plastic lined paper cartons (eg. noodle box) Plastic lid/windows/seals for food containers PP or PET rectangular lidded food containers Plastic lidded bowls/containers containing hot soupy food Condiment packaging / soy sauce fish Sauce sachets Non-compostable produce labels Bread tags / similar rigid tags used to close a bag Polystyrene (PS) takeaway food/bev packaging PVC pre-formed food trays and containers PS and PVC food packaging (pre-packaged) Plastic sticks for lollipops, ice-cream, foods Pizza savers Items in pre-packaged food/bev products Plastic beverage containers (eg. bottles) ie. CDS Plastic beverage container lids Plastic beverage stoppers/plugs Plastic cups for cold drinks Plastic cups for hot drinks Plastic cup lids & seals EPS foodware (eg clamshells) EPS cups EPS trays (eg. meat, fresh produce) EPS multi-serve gelato container EPS pre-packaged food/drink (eg. noodle cups) EPS packaging (loose fill) EPS packaging (moulded*) Expanded plastic packaging (loose fill) eg. EPE, EVA, bio Expanded plastic packaging (moulded*) eg. EPE, EVA, bio Lightweight plastic shopping bags (<36 microns) Heavyweight plastic shopping bags (>36 microns) Paper bags with plastic laminate Fabric bags
exemption ends 31 Oct 2024
no exemption ends 31 Oct 2024
Already banned
KEY SOURCES
Ban rollout underway. New postponements for deli bags and produce stickers
banned except produce stickers
Non-compostable barrier bags (unpackaged meat, seafood, dairy)
OTHER
future bans on hold
ACT
- cert compostable allowed?
DRINKWARE
Consultation closed, awaiting govt update.
banned
Polymer-coated paper bowls without lids
OTHER FOOD PACKAGING
Consultation closed, awaiting govt update.
Position on certified compostable plastic
- cert compostable allowed?
FOODWARE (with lids)
bans in effect, no further bans announced.
IMPORTANT: The rules, exemptions and definitions for each state ban vary greatly. Please check each government website for details.
Contact NRA
Proposed for ban / under consultation
Darwin by-law
Proposed for design standards / CDS
Contact govt
Contact govt
Contact govt
Contact NRA
Contact govt
Contact govt
ReplacetheWaste SA
TAS Plastics Ban
VIC Plastics Ban
DWER Govt website
National Packaging Targets
NZ Plastics Plan
QLD Plastics Ban 2024 Plastics Action Plan
Design standards / CDS in effect
Plastics Ban WA * See government website for detailed exemptions
Hobart by-law Recent discussion paper
* New WA design standard for produce/barrier bags
Packaging reform National Waste Policy