Reduce your use

Coffee cups

Make a simple, but impactful change by switching to reusable coffee cups.

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Food bags

Make a simple, but impactful change by switching to reusable food bags.

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Bottles

Make a simple, but impactful change by switching to reusable bottles.

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Food wraps

Make a simple, but impactful change by switching to reusable food wraps.

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Shopping bags

Make a simple, but impactful change by switching to reusable shopping bags.

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Straws

Make a simple, but impactful change by switching to reusable straws.

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Did you know... 

  • single-use plastic items still make up 60% of all litter in NSW?
  • 84% of plastic is sent to landfill, and only 13% is recycled?
  • approximately 130,000 tonnes of plastic leaks into Australia's marine environment each year?

Small changes to your every day habits can make a big difference. By phasing out single-use plastics, we can:

  • help stop almost 2.7 billion items of plastic litter from entering our environment and waterways over the next 20 years
  • keep our streets and oceans clean
  • keep our community beautiful.

NSW Plastic ban

It’s more important than ever to challenge yourself to reduce your plastic use, as the NSW Government is banning some single-use plastics in the later half of 2022. 

NSW Plastic ban - what's happening and when

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The NSW Government is banning some plastic items in two stages over the course of this year, 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 will be in place from 1 November 2022. Exemptions will 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 will 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 itm made in whole or part of expanded polystyrene used to serve food or beverages.

You can find more information about the ban by visiting the NSW Department of Planning and Environment's website.

Supporting sustainable businesses

The ban on single-use plastic means that businesses may need to source new stock to ensure that consumers in NSW are not supplied with banned items. It also means organisations, event planners, or community groups need to find alternative products for functions, events and operations.

The enforcement of the ban will be regulated by the NSW Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with on-the-spot fines, so it is important to understand who the ban applies to and how to comply.

Where to find assistance

  • The National Retail Association (NRA)
    NRA is providing support for businesses and organisations impacted by this shift by providing information sessions, resources, and regular updates. Find more information on their website.

  • NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPIE)
    DPIE has collated fact sheets, advice for businesses, questions to ask your suppliers, and resources to assist your business in implementing the plastic-ban. Find more information on their website.
  • The Great Plastic Rescue
    The Great Plastic Rescue supports retailers, wholesalers, small business owners and other impacted organisations by providing a more sustainable solution for disposing of their unused banned excess stock. By registering to join the rescue mission single-use plastics can be rescued, recycled, and remanufactured into valuable products with longer useful lifespans. Find more information on their website.