Single-use plastics ban – new items banned from 1 July 2023

From 1 July 2023, the ACT Government will ban additional single-use plastics including:

• single-use plastic plates and bowls.
• expanded polystyrene loose fill packaging and trays.
• plastic microbeads in rinse-off personal care and cleaning products.

Fekerte’s Ethiopian restaurant in Acton is already serving their delicious Ethiopian cuisine in reusable and plastic-free alternatives.

“I’ve been using these types of containers for years and customers tell me they support us using them,” the restaurant’s owner, Fekerte Tesfaye, said.

“Like a lot of other businesses, I want to do my part for the environment.”

These items join the list of single-use plastics that have already been banned in the ACT, including:

• single-use plastic straws (with exemptions for those who need them)
• cotton buds with plastic sticks
• all oxo-degradable plastics. These plastics contain additives which cause them to break down into harmful microplastics. They are often used in products like dog waste bags and rubbish bags and can be labelled as degradable.
• single-use plastic cutlery
• single-use plastic stirrers
• expanded polystyrene takeaway food and beverage containers.
• single-use plastic shopping bags at or below 35 micrometres in thickness.

Learn more about these items and how businesses can switch to sustainable alternatives.