New South Wales passes plastic waste reduction reforms

The New South Wales government has passed legislative reforms under the NSW Plastics Plan 2.0 to reduce plastic waste and protect waterways. The plan mandates the phase-out of several items, including microbeads, balloon sticks, lollipop sticks, and bread tags.

By 2030, soy sauce fish containers must be recyclable, and fruit and vegetable stickers must transition to compostable materials. The reforms also target the approximately 800 million single-use coffee cups used annually in the state. While not banning coffee cups, the law requires that by 2028, cafes must offer mugs or glasses for dine-in customers and accept clean, hygienic reusable cups for takeaway.

Additionally, cafes will be expected to introduce voluntary reusable cup schemes, though these will not be mandatory for small businesses. The government plans to launch reuse trials as early as next year in state-owned venues, such as stadiums and office buildings, utilizing packaging designed to be returned, washed, and reused.