HEFEI PAKA ECO-TECH CO.,LTD
Banned Items & Alternatives of Australia
CUPS
DID YOU KNOW?
Most paper cups have a plastic or bioplastic lining or coating to make them waterproof.
Single use cups for hot and cold beverages can be made from a range of plastic materials. Before the 1 October 2022 ban on cold beverage cups, these cups were typically supplied in clear plastic or clear bioplastic cups. Hot beverages are typically supplied in plastic-lined paperboard or expanded polystyrene cups.
IMPORTANT: Lids include rigid or flexible lids, including heat-sealed film applied to the top of a cup.
Plastic lids for containers and bowls are also banned in September 2024 – more information is provided under Foodware.
BANNED FROM 1 OCTOBER 2022
The ban applies to:
- disposable plastic cups or plastic glasses of any shape used for cold drinks
- disposable plastic-lined paper/fibre cups which are not certified compostable (see below)
- disposable cups made purely from compostable plastic, such as PLA
BANNED FROM 1 SEPTEMBER 2023
The ban applies to expanded polystyrene (EPS) cups of any shape.
BANNED FROM 1 MARCH 2024
The ban applies to:
- disposable plastic cups of any shape which are used for hot drinks such as tea, coffee and hot chocolate
- disposable plastic-lined paper/fibre cups which are not certified compostable (see below)
The bans on disposable plastic cups do NOT apply to:
- disposable paper or fibre cups which are lined or coated with plastic or bioplastic where the whole cup has achieved the Australian Standard for industrial composting (AS 4736:2006) or home composting (AS 5810:2010)
- plastic beverage containers such as soft drink/juice bottles or jars (however, these may have obligations under the State Government’s Containers for Change container deposit scheme)
- containers which are used for food (for example, a container for ice cream or soup may be called a ‘cup’ but is defined as a bowl under this ban - see rules for foodware)
- reusable plastic cups that are designed for reuse, being strong and sturdy
- expanded polystyrene cups that are part of a pre-packaged product such as a noodle pack.
ALTERNATIVES
First, consider whether customers could be encouraged to bring their own cups. Alternatively, contact Plastic Free Places for further information on joining a cup exchange scheme or start a cup return scheme for your customers.
Then, consider reusable options such as ceramic or metal. If most customers drink onsite, you could save money and waste by using washable items.
Finally, if you do need disposable alternatives, look for lined/coated paper or fibre cups that have achieved the Australian Standard for industrial (AS 4736:2006) or home (AS 5810:2010) composting.
Cups purely made from compostable plastic are not allowed.
