Single-use Plastic FAQs - Next Steps: 2023, 2024 & 2025

From 1 September 2023 the following items will be prohibited:

• Plastic-stemmed cotton buds
  
  
• Single-use plastic plates
  
  
• Single-use plastic bowls*
  
  
• Plastic pizza savers 
  
  

Regulations will be in place from 1 September 2023, with some exemptions. 

*A single-use plastic bowl means a bowl designed without a spill-proof lid.

Plastic bowls designed or intended to have a lid are considered ‘food containers’ and will be addressed by the 2024 (Stage 4) bans and restrictions.

Examples of products considered as ‘single-use food containers’ include salad bowls, soup bowls, and ice cream bowls (also sold as ice cream cups). These products are considered food containers even when they are not sold or supplied with a lid. 

If you are still unsure whether the product you sell or supply is a prohibited plastic product from 1 September 2023, please contact sup@sa.gov.au.

From 1 September 2024: 

• Plastic produce bags
  (Excluding bags certified to Australian Standards for compostability [AS 4736-2006 & AS 5810-2010])
  
  

• Thick supermarket or boutique-style plastic bags
  
  
• Single-use plastic beverage containers and lids (including coffee cups) 
  
  
• Single-use plastic beverage plugs 
  
  
• Single-use plastic food containers
  
  
• Other expanded polystyrene (EPS) consumer food and beverage containers
  
  
• EPS trays used for meat, fruit and other food items for retail sale 
  
  
• Plastic balloon sticks and ties 
  
  
• Plastic confetti 
  
  
• Plastic bread tags
  
  

Consultation on regulations will be undertaken ahead of 1 September 2024.
 

For further information see the latest Next Steps document HERE or contact us. 

For key updates and announcements, join the Replace the Waste mailing list HERE. 

From 1 September 2025: 

• Plastic fruit stickers 
  
  
• Plastic soy sauce fish 
  
  
• Pre-packaged and attached prohibited single-use plastic products (e.g. straws attached to beverage containers). 
  
  

Consultation on regulations will be undertaken ahead of 1 September 2025. 

For further information see the latest Next Steps document HERE or contact us. 

For key updates and announcements, join the Replace the Waste mailing list HERE.