Single-use plastics ban in the ACT
Plastic rubbish pollutes our land and water and ends up in landfill. We've banned certain single-use plastics in the ACT. Businesses, organisations and community groups can't supply these items. It doesn't apply to things you use at home.
About the law
The law was developed in consultation with Canberra business and industry sectors, as well as interstate and national bodies. The ACT was one of the first places in Australia to pass a law to reduce single-use plastics. These are plastic products that are designed to use once and throw away, even if you can reuse them.
The Plastic Reduction Act 2021 bans the supply of:
- single-use plastic cutlery, including bioplastic cutlery
- single-use plastic stirrers, including bioplastic stirrers
- expanded polystyrene takeaway food and beverage containers
- single-use plastic straws, with exemptions for those who need them
- cotton buds with plastic sticks
- all plastic products made from oxo-degradable plastic (these are plastics which break down into ‘microplastics’ and don’t completely decompose)
- Lightweight plastic bags (less than 35 microns in thickness) are also banned in the ACT.
The ACT is banning additional single-use plastic items in two stages:
From 1 July 2023
- single-use plastic plates and bowls
- expanded polystyrene loose fill packaging and expanded polystyrene trays
- plastic microbeads in rinse-off personal care and cleaning products.
From 1 January 2024
- heavyweight and boutique plastic bags (greater than 35 microns in thickness).
Who it helps
Plastics can help with food safety and reduce food waste. But taking a small step to shift to reusable, recyclable or compostable alternatives is better for the environment. It helps reduce litter and reduces pressure on overcrowded landfills.
Most Canberrans support regulating single-use plastics. See a 2019 survey of over 3,000 people (PDF 1.8MB).
Why it's important
It's important to keep plastic litter out of our landscape and waterways.
Single-use plastics often end up in landfill. They can take hundreds of years to break down.
Conventional plastic products are usually made from crude oil. They can take hundreds of years to break down.
Bioplastics products are made from plant extracts. You can only break down bioplastic and compostable plastic in industrial composting facilities. If not composted, they cause litter, pollution and harm to wildlife.
How it works
The ban on the supply of single-use plastic applies to all business and community organisations.
You need to understand how this law affects your business. Penalties apply for breaching the ban.
What you can do
If you are a business or community organisation, use our resources and information. They'll help you comply with the ban.
Contact us
Advice for businesses, community organisations and institutions on the single-use plastic ban. Help with choosing alternatives.
ACT Single-Use Plastics Hotline, run by the National Retail Association
Phone 1800 844 946
Email singleuseplastics@act.gov.au
To report a breach of the ban:
Access Canberra
Phone 13 22 81
Email singleuseplastics@act.gov.au
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.