Plastics Plan 2.0
The NSW Plastics Plan 2.0 sets out our next steps to reduce plastic waste in the environment and in landfill.
We have made strong progress under the first NSW Plastics Action Plan to reduce the impact of plastics on our environment and communities. For example, we've exceeded our target of reducing plastic litter items by 30% compared to baseline years (2018–19) by 2025.
But more can be done. The NSW Plastics Plan 2.0 (PDF 1.7MB) has been informed by a multi-stage consultation process and sets out the actions the NSW Government will take to:
- reduce plastic litter in our environment, in support of our target to reduce all litter items by 60% by 2030
- protect human health, the environment, and recycling streams from the impacts of microplastics and harmful chemicals in plastics
- harmonise with other states and territories where possible, while taking a leading role where further, faster action is needed.
These actions will be staged between 2026 and 2030 to ensure businesses, communities, and regulators have enough time to transition to the new requirements.
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2026
- Ban release of lighter-than-air balloons.
- Commence trials for reusable cup systems in NSW Government premises.
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2027
Commence regulations phasing out the supply of the following items from late 2027 (after an 18-month transition period is expected to end):
- plastics containing pro-degradant additives
- rinse-off cleaning products containing plastic microbeads
- plastic bags with handles, regardless of thickness
- plastic umbrella bags
- plastic pizza savers
- plastic tags used to seal bags containing bread, bakery, and dry pantry items (with a temporary exemption for bags containing fresh produce to September 2029)
- plastic balloon sticks and ties
- loose-fill and void-fill packaging made from expanded or foamed plastic
- food supply and service items, such as food trays, made from expanded or foamed plastic
Establish a reuse-only precinct in the Sydney CBD in late 2027.
Identify and prioritise chemicals of concern in food and beverage packaging items.
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2028
Commence regulations phasing out the supply of the following items in mid-2028 (after a 24-month transition period is expected to end):
- plastic confectionery sticks
- moulded or cut packaging made from expanded or foamed plastic.
Commence requirement for food service businesses to accept reusable cups for takeaway beverages.
Commence regulations requiring single-use plastic cups, food containers, and lids to be recyclable.
Commence regulations for proper disposal labelling on single-use plastic cups, food containers, and plastic bags.
Require all new washing machines supplied in NSW to meet a microfibre performance standard.
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2029
Commence regulations phasing out plastic tags used to seal bags containing fresh produce (temporary exemption expires).
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2030
Commence regulations phasing out fruit and vegetable stickers.
Commence requirement for large food service businesses to offer reusable cups for takeaway beverages as part of a reuse system.
Commence regulations requiring single-serve plastic condiment packages to be recyclable and to have labelling for proper disposal.
Commence regulations requiring plastic lids to be tethered to plastic beverage containers at or below 1.25L, and for both to be recyclable.
Implement a product stewardship scheme for plastic takeaway cups and food containers.
Reducing plastic waste
Reducing plastic waste that enters our environment starts with phasing out unnecessary and harmful plastics and scaling up reusable alternatives to highly littered single-use plastic items.
The NSW Plastics Plan 2.0 sets out how the NSW Government will:
In 2022, NSW phased out the supply of items such as lightweight plastic bags; single-use plastic cutlery, bowls, plates, stirrers, and straws; and plastic microbeads in some rinse-off personal care products. Since then, there has been a steeper decline in the number of banned plastic items that are littered compared to plastic litter more generally.
To build on this progress, the NSW Plastics Plan 2.0 identifies further unnecessary and problematic plastic items for phase-out.
These include items such as:
- plastic shopping bags (other than barrier bags) and plastic confectionery sticks, which still enter and persist in our environment as litter and cause harm to our waterways and wildlife
- cleaning products that contain microbeads or plastics that more readily break up into microplastics, which pollute our environment and contaminate our recycling streams
- plastic pizza savers, plastic tags to seal bags containing food, plastic balloon sticks and ties, and loose-fill and moulded or cut expanded plastic packaging, which have been phased out in other Australian states and territories.
Under the NSW Plastics Plan 2.0, the NSW Government will introduce new requirements for takeaway food service businesses to accept reusable cups provided by customers and – for large businesses – offer a reusable cup option as part of a reuse system.
This will be supported by programs to trial reuse systems in NSW Government premises and establish reuse precincts.
These actions will help to normalise reuse behaviours, build the infrastructure and systems needed to scale reusable items, and overcome the key barriers to making reuse commonplace.
Increasing plastic recycling
Not all plastic items can currently be safely or feasibly avoided or reused, meaning we need to look at ways to increase plastic waste recycling.
The NSW Plastics Plan 2.0 sets out how the NSW Government will increase:
Where a product ends up when it becomes waste is significantly influenced by the way it is designed. Designing for recycling means designing items:
- to be made from materials that can be recovered and reprocessed into a valuable product
- without materials that may contaminate recycling processes
- to be accepted in available collection and processing systems for recycling.
The NSW Government will make regulations requiring highly littered takeaway food and beverage packaging items to be designed for recycling.
To transform highly littered waste material into a valued recovered resource, a convenient system must be in place to incentivise the collection and processing of the material at scale.
The NSW Government will develop a product stewardship scheme for the collection, reuse and recycling of plastic takeaway cups and food containers.
Reducing pollution of the environment and contamination of recycling streams
To reduce the risk of pollution in the environment and the contamination of our valued recycling streams, the NSW Plastics Plan 2.0 sets out how the NSW Government will:
To reduce the impact of materials ending up in the wrong bin or as litter, the NSW Government will make regulations to require clear labelling on how to properly dispose items such as certain takeaway food and beverage packaging and plastic barrier bags.
Plastics contain thousands of different chemical additives that are added during the manufacturing process to change the way a plastic looks and functions. While some of these chemicals are beneficial and safe for use, others – such as phthalates and bisphenols – have hazardous properties and can leach from items into the environment over time. These chemicals of concern may not only pose risks to the environment and human health but can also create challenges for reuse and recycling.
The most effective way to prevent them from entering the waste stream is to remove them from the products we use. The NSW Government will work with the Commonwealth Government, other states and territories, and industry to identify and phase out chemicals of concern in plastic items, starting with food and beverage packaging.
Washing clothes and other items made of synthetic textiles in washing machines is a significant source of microplastic pollution.
Under the National Plastics Plan 2021, the Commonwealth Government has committed to working with the textile and whitegoods sector on an industry-led phase-in of microfibre filters on new residential and commercial washing machines. Following the development of a national standard relating to microfibres released by washing machines, the NSW Government will make regulations to require all new washing machines supplied in the state to meet this standard.
Next steps
The NSW Government will introduce legislation and make regulations in 2026 to implement the actions in the NSW Plastics Plan 2.0.
The EPA may grant exemptions from the new requirements where appropriate. The EPA’s Guideline on making exemptions under the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act 2021 (PDF 365KB) provides guidance on how the EPA will determine whether to grant exemptions and any related consultation.
We will consult further on the details of new requirements proposed to be set out in regulations, including any exemptions, during the regulation making process.