Single-use plastic cups for cold drinks banned in Western Australia from today

October 1, 2022

The sale or supply of single-use plastic cold beverage cups has been banned from today in Western Australia with the move completing the first stage of the state's Plan for Plastics.

People that require single-use plastic items to maintain their quality of life, such as those in the disability, aged care and health sectors, will be ensured a continued supply.

Single-use plastic takeaway coffee cups among other plastic products will be targeted in the next stage, which will be introduced from February 2023. Disposable options will also still exist, with certified compostable cups and lids excluded from the ban and already widely used by businesses.

Leading the rest of the country in introducing the ban, it is expected that 430 million single-use plastics will be saved from landfill or littering in Western Australia each year.

Nine items have been phased out as part of Western Australia's Plan for Plastics first stage since July, including plates, cutlery, drink stirrers, drinking straws, thick plastic bags, expanded polystyrene food containers, helium balloon releases and unlidded containers.

The Stage 1 bans are estimated to eliminate large amounts of single-use plastics every year, including 300 million plastic straws, 50 million pieces of plastic cutlery and more than 110 million thick plastic shopping bags.

The extended transition period to 1st October for cold cups was to allow retailers and suppliers to access support to help them transition to single-use plastic alternatives.

Western Australia continues to lead the way and the State-wide ban coincides with McDonald's replacing approximately 17.5 million plastic cold beverage cups and lids in its McCafés across the State, in an Australian first. This means that around 140 tonnes of plastic will be removed from annual circulation.

The Western Australian Government is urging businesses to make the switch, and will continue to use a common-sense, education-first approach to enforcing the ban. Businesses or community groups needing support can visit www.plasticsbanwa.com.au

Transition timeframes for Stage 2 banned products, including single-use plastic coffee cups, will be determined through consultation.

To have your say, visit www.wa.gov.au/planforplastics by 18th November 2022.

23rd September 2022 - NSW Government launches confronting new campaign ahead of plastic ban

9th September 2022 - European Commission move to restrict microplastic use set to impact infill used in synthetic turf systems

25th August 2022 - Darwin’s hospitality venues and vendors join Plastic Free NT program

29th July 2022 - Looking to reduce plastic cup waste Adelaide Oval will now serve alcohol in cans

19th July 2022 - Taronga offers edible coffee cups for Plastic Free July

1st July 2022 - Conservationists welcome Australian Government’s commitment to addressing plastic pollution

16th May 2022 - Belgravia Leisure explains move away from single-use plastics

14th April 2022 - Western Australian hospitality venues offered help in transition to becoming plastic free

22nd March 2022 - Federal Government invests $60 million in recycling - but is it enough to stem the tide of plastic pollution?

10th March 2022 - ACT Government’s single-use plastics ban expanded to include Manuka Oval and GIO Stadium

22nd February 2022 - 40,000 businesses across NSW to receive extra help in transitioning away from single-use plastics

3rd January 2022 - Western Australia phases out single-use plastics

14th June 2021 - NSW and Western Australian Governments announce new plastic bans

1st April 2021 - Legislation passed for phasing out single-use plastics in ACT

11th March 2021 - Queensland Government passes legislation to ban single-use plastics

1st March 2021 - South Australia’s ban on single-use plastic starts today

9th November 2020 - Western Australian Government releases new strategy to reduce single-use plastics

14th August 2020 - Australian Marine Conservation Society claims ACT Government is delaying comprehensive single use plastic legislation

15th July 2020 - Queensland Government moves to ban single-use plastics to save marine life

26th June 2020 - WISE thanked for eliminating 300,000 single use plastic cups from landfill during FIRE FIGHT concert

11th March 2020 - New CSIRO research shows ocean plastic returning to Australian coastlines

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

Click here to view our subscription options.