Australia's Plastic Bans by State: Which Takeaway Packaging Is Still Allowed?
Australia has no national ban: each state sets its own. Plastic plates and foam (EPS) food containers are banned in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and the ACT, and plastic bowls without lids in all of those except Victoria. Western Australia and South Australia went further on 1 September 2024 and also ban plastic lids and lidded plastic containers for takeaway food. Tasmania and the Northern Territory have proposed phase-outs. The bans cover items made partly of plastic, including plastic linings, so moulded bagasse without a plastic layer, closed with a fibre lid, fits all of them.
Plastic foodware bans by state and territory
Dates are when each ban took effect for businesses. Checked against each government's own pages on 30 October 2026; straws, cutlery, bags and other items are left out.
Swipe for all columns →
| State or territory | Plastic plates and bowls | Foam (EPS) food containers and cups | Plastic lids for takeaway containers |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Banned 1 Nov 2022 (bowls without lids) | Banned 1 Nov 2022 | Not banned |
| Victoria | Plates banned 1 Feb 2023; plastic bowls not banned | Banned 1 Feb 2023 | Not banned |
| Queensland | Banned 1 Sep 2021 (unenclosed bowls) | Banned 1 Sep 2021 | Not banned |
| Western Australia | Unlidded banned 1 Jul 2022; lidded banned 1 Sep 2024 | Banned 1 Jul 2022 | Banned 1 Sep 2024 |
| South Australia | Banned 1 Sep 2023 (bowls without lids) | Banned 1 Mar 2022 | Takeaway containers with plastic lids banned 1 Sep 2024 |
| Australian Capital Territory | Banned 1 Jul 2023 (lidded bowls exempt) | Banned 1 Jul 2021 | Not banned |
| Tasmania | No state-wide ban in force; phase-out proposed | Proposed | Not banned |
| Northern Territory | No territory-wide ban in force; phase-out proposed | Proposed | Not banned |
Plastic includes linings and coatings: NSW, Victoria and the ACT ended their temporary exemptions for plastic-lined paper plates and bowls in late 2024. Western Australia exempts food pre-packaged off-site, except in EPS. The City of Hobart has its own by-law on plastic takeaway packaging.
In WA and SA, the lid has to be fibre too
Since 1 September 2024, Western Australia bans disposable plastic lids for bowls, trays and containers used for takeaway or eat-in food, and South Australia's ban on single-use plastic food containers covers bowls and trays with plastic lids. A clear PET lid on a bagasse bowl is therefore not an option there for food served to customers.
Two ways round it: a moulded fibre lid on the same container, or a one-piece box with a hinged lid. In the other states, PET lids are not banned.
Jirun's fibre lids
- 1,000 ml Fibre Lid: fits JR-F16, JR-F17
- 1,200/1,400 ml Fibre Lid: fits JR-R17, JR-R22
- Fibre Lid for 1,400 ml 4-, 5- and 6-Compartment Containers: fits JR-F20, JR-F22, JR-F23, JR-F32
Moulded from the same pulp as the containers. One-piece box with a hinged lid: JR-T04 6 Inch Burger Box.
Banned item → bagasse replacement
Jirun makes moulded bagasse foodware from 75% sugarcane bagasse and 25% bamboo pulp, in natural and white.
| Banned item | Bagasse replacement |
|---|---|
| Plastic or foam bowls | Bowls: Round, straight-wall, hexagonal, oval and hat-shaped bowls from 260–1,250 ml. |
| Plastic or foam plates and meal trays | Food Containers: compartment trays for set meals. Jirun does not make flat plates. |
| Foam clamshells and burger boxes | Takeaway Boxes: Three 6-inch burger boxes plus hot dog, spring roll, lunch and takeaway containers. |
| Plastic lids (WA, SA) | Fibre lids for 8 containers, or a hinged box |
| Foam meat and produce trays (WA from 1 Sep 2023, SA from 1 Sep 2024) | Meat Trays: Five trays for fresh meat, fish and produce, from 225×175 to 320×265 mm. |
Jirun supplies the fluorine-free grade to Australia. See grease barrier options and test reports.
Questions buyers ask
Are bagasse takeaway containers allowed under Australian plastic bans?
Yes, when they have no plastic layer. The state bans target items made wholly or partly of plastic, and Western Australia and South Australia state explicitly that plastic linings and coatings count. Moulded bagasse with no film or coating is a fibre item; a plastic lid on it is a separate plastic item.
Can I use a clear plastic lid on a bagasse bowl in Western Australia or South Australia?
Not for takeaway or eat-in food. Western Australia banned disposable plastic lids for bowls, trays and containers from 1 September 2024; South Australia's takeaway food container ban of the same date covers bowls and trays with plastic lids. WA exempts food pre-packaged off-site. Use a fibre lid or a hinged one-piece box instead: Jirun makes 3 moulded fibre lids.
Are plastic-lined paper bowls and plates banned in New South Wales?
Yes. NSW gave paper plates and bowls with a plastic lining a temporary exemption that ended on 31 October 2024; they are now treated like plastic plates and bowls. Victoria and the ACT ran similar exemptions for plastic-lined paper items that ended at the same time.
Is there a national single-use plastics ban in Australia?
No. Each state and territory legislates separately, which is why dates and items differ. Queensland has paused further bans while national harmonisation work is under way, and NSW has announced further phase-outs from late 2027 under its Plastics Plan 2.0.
Do compostable plastic containers get an exemption?
In a few cases only. Western Australia allows some plastic-lined paperboard items certified to the Australian composting standards (AS 4736 and AS 5810), and South Australia requires certified compostable items to be clearly marked from 1 March 2026. Victoria bans compostable plastic plates outright. Check the rule for the exact item and state.
Which grease barrier does Jirun supply to Australia?
The fluorine-free grade: a wax-emulsion grease barrier, no fluorochemicals added. Jirun makes no laminated or spray-coated grade, so its bagasse items carry no plastic film.
Sources
- About the plastics bans (NSW EPA)
- Victoria's single-use plastic ban (vic.gov.au)
- Banned single-use plastic items (Queensland Government)
- Western Australia's Plan for Plastics (WA Government)
- Single-use plastic products prohibited in South Australia (Replace the Waste, SA Government)
- Single-use plastics (ACT Government, City Services)
- Phasing out single-use plastics: frequently asked questions (NRE Tasmania)
Related guides
- Fluorine-free, Fluorinated or Laminated Bagasse: Which Grease Barrier Should You Choose?
- How Many Bagasse Containers Fit in a 20GP or 40HQ Container?
- Bagasse vs PLA vs PP vs Paperboard Food Containers: How Do They Compare?
- PPWR and PFAS: What Should EU Buyers Ask a Bagasse Supplier?
- How Do You Read a Bagasse Tableware Spec Sheet?
- Bagasse Sushi Tray Sizes Explained: No.3 to No.9 and ST-3G to ST-5G
- 5- and 6-Compartment Bagasse Trays for School Meals: Which One to Buy?
- Bagasse Tableware MOQ, Lead Time and Mixed Containers: What Are the Terms?
- How Do You Choose a Bagasse Tableware Manufacturer in China?
- UK Single-Use Plastics Ban: What Is Banned, and Which Bagasse Items Replace It?
- Takeaway Container Sizes: How Big Is a 500, 750 or 1,000 ml Container?
Models referred to in this guide
1,000 ml Bagasse Bowl
210 × 210 × 60 mm · 20 g
40HQ approx. 609,000
1,400 ml 5-Compartment Bagasse Container with Bowl
280 × 210 × 40 mm · 37 g
40HQ approx. 292,600
850 ml 2-Compartment Bagasse Container
235 × 132 × 50 mm · 18 g
40HQ approx. 618,000