About the ban

The ban on the supply of single-use plastic straws, stirrers, plates, unenclosed bowls, and cutlery, and expanded polystyrene (EPS) takeaway food containers and EPS cups started in Queensland on 1 September 2021.

Watch this video to learn more about the ban.

Expanding the ban

Community, industry and business consultation has shown strong support to expand the ban of single-use plastics. As a result, we are planning to ban the following single-use plastic items from 1 September 2023:

• cotton buds with plastic stems
• expanded polystyrene loose packaging
• plastic microbeads in rinseable personal care and cleaning products
• heavy weight plastic shopping bags
• the mass release of lighter than air balloons.

A proposed five-year roadmap has been prepared to show how the Queensland Government plans to continue to consult with suppliers, manufacturers and businesses on the inclusion of additional single-use plastic items in the ban, including single-use takeaway coffee cups and lids.

This will provide industry and businesses with an opportunity to provide feedback regarding supply chain challenges, sourcing suitable alternatives and timeframes, and preparing for future actions.

• Five-year roadmap for action on single-use plastic items (PDF, 57 KB)

Resources

• Single-use plastic items ban fact sheet (PDF, 1.7 MB)
• Single-use plastic items ban poster (PDF, 1.9 MB)

Who to contact

Visit the Queensland Plastics Ban website for more information or call the National Retail Association Hotline on 1800 844 946.

Additional information

• Single-use Plastic Items Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) (PDF, 1.1 MB)
• Single-use plastics product ban Consultation summary (PDF, 1.3 MB)
• Single-use plastics product ban Full consultation report (PDF, 4.1 MB)
• Consultation Report: Single-use plastic items: Consultation report on expanded polystyrene (EPS) (PDF, 1.1 MB)
• Waste Reduction and Recycling (Plastic Items) Amendment Act 2021