The NSW Government is banning more plastic items in stages to combat almost 2.7 billion items of plastic litter from entering our environment in NSW over the next 20 years.
Stage 1
From 1 June 2022, the first stage of the ban began. Remember to pack your reusable shopping bags when you go to the shops as plastic shopping bags are now a thing of the past. All lightweight plastic shopping bags of 35 microns thick or less, including compostable or bioplastic alternatives, can no longer be supplied by businesses.
The ban doesn’t apply to:
- Thicker plastic bags (like those from major supermarkets)
- Barrier bags such as produce and deli bags
- Bin liners and compost caddy liners
- Nappy bags and pet waste bags
Stage 2
The second stage came into effect on 1 November 2022. Exemptions apply in certain settings to allow the supply of single-use plastic straws to people with a disability or medical need.
Items banned from this date include:
- Plastic single-use straws
- Plastic single-use stirrers
- Plastic single-use cutlery (spoons, forks, knives, sporks, chopsticks - any utensil used for consuming food)
- Plastic single-use plates and bowls
- Plastic single-use cotton buds and plastic microbeads in rinse-off personal hygiene products (exfoliating beads)
- Expanded polystyrene foodware including bowls, cups, clamshell containers, and plates, or any plastic item made in whole or part of expanded polystyrene used to serve food or beverages
Recent Changes:
From 1 January 2025, the ban extended to include integrated packaging of single-use plastic items. This means that any single-use plastic items that are part of the packaging of a product is also now banned
You can find more information about the ban by visiting the NSW Department of Planning and Environment's website.