Why this matters right now
Two things happened in September 2026 that every QSR packaging buyer should know about.
First, the federal government confirmed that a new Commonwealth packaging scheme will not be introduced this term of government. The mandatory design standards and recycled-content targets agreed with the states in 2023 are on hold, and the existing co-regulatory system (the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation and the Used Packaging Materials NEPM) stays in place.
Second, at the Environment Ministers Meeting on 18 September 2026, ministers agreed to explore harmonising plastic bans where states currently differ. Early candidates include EPS food trays, loose-fill expanded plastic packaging, degradable plastics and heavyweight shopping bags. There is no timetable yet.
The practical result: state rules will keep doing the heavy lifting for the foreseeable future, and the gaps between states are not closing quickly.
What is banned in each state and territory
The table below covers the items QSR and foodservice operators handle most. It is a summary, so always check the regulator's own guidance before changing a packaging specification.
| Jurisdiction | Key foodservice items already banned | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | Plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery (including chopsticks and sporks), plates, bowls without spill-proof lids, EPS food service ware including cups (from 1 Nov 2022) | Compostable and bioplastic versions are also banned. Plastics Plan 2.0 legislation is due in 2026, covering reusable cups, recyclable cups, containers and lids, and disposal labelling, staged to 2030. |
| VIC | Plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates and EPS foodware and cups (from 1 Feb 2023) | Compostable plastic alternatives are banned too. Since 1 Jan 2026 the ban also covers these items when packed into a product by machine (for example a spoon in a frozen meal). Other plastic cups, bowls and containers are not banned. |
| QLD | Plastic straws, stirrers, plates, unenclosed bowls, cutlery, EPS takeaway containers and cups | The shelf-ready exemption ended 31 Dec 2025. No new bans since September 2023; further bans are paused pending national harmonisation. Hospitals, aged care and medical settings have exemptions for some items. |
| SA | All of the above plus plastic beverage cups and lids, and plastic containers for same-day ready-to-eat takeaway food and condiments packed on site | Certified compostable alternatives must be clearly marked from 1 Mar 2026. Clear PP or PET square or rectangular containers with clear lids, and PP soup bowls for food served above 60°C, are allowed until 31 Aug 2029. Plastic-lined paper bowls and plates are banned. |
| WA | Plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, bowls, EPS foodware, plastic coffee cups and cup lids, plastic takeaway trays, lids and lidded bowls and containers (staged to Sept 2024) | Covers plant-based plastics and plastic linings or coatings, with limited exemptions. Food pre-packaged off site is generally outside the ban, except EPS. |
| ACT | Plastic cutlery, stirrers, plates and bowls (including plastic-lined paper), straws, EPS takeaway food and beverage containers | Consultation on 14 more items, including coffee cups and lids, cold cups, bowls with lids and sauce containers, closed 1 May 2026. Watch for an announcement. |
| TAS | No statewide ban in force yet | The state is developing legislation and a phase-out roadmap. Hobart already has its own by-law on single-use plastic takeaway packaging. |
| NT | No statewide food packaging ban in force | A discussion paper proposes phasing out straws, utensils, plates, bowls and EPS food containers. |
| New Zealand | EPS and some polystyrene takeaway packaging, some PVC food trays, stirrers (from Oct 2022); plastic straws (with disability and health exemptions), plastic tableware and cutlery, produce bags (2023) | A planned 2025 phase-out of remaining PVC and polystyrene food packaging did not go ahead. |
The three rules that trip up QSR buyers
- "Compostable" does not mean compliant everywhere. NSW, Victoria and WA ban compostable and bioplastic versions of many banned items. South Australia accepts compostable containers, but only if they are certified to Australian standards (AS 4736 or AS 5810) and clearly marked. A compostable fork that is fine in Adelaide can still be illegal in Sydney.
- Linings and coatings count. Paper bowls, cups and boxes with a plastic lining can be treated as plastic. The ACT, SA and WA all spell this out. Ask suppliers what the barrier layer is made from, not just the base board.
- The supplier and the store are both on the hook. Bans generally apply to anyone who sells or supplies the item, including importers, distributors and wholesalers. Old stock bought before a ban usually cannot be used once the ban starts.
How to build a compliant packaging range across stores
A practical checklist for multi-site operators and franchise groups. The same sequence is set out in how a chain brief works.
- Map your footprint. List every state and territory you trade in, plus any New Zealand sites.
- Specify to the strictest state. If you trade in SA or WA, one national spec built for those states removes most of the risk, cuts SKU count and keeps the customer experience consistent.
- Audit every component. Container, lid, cup, straw, cutlery, sauce pot, window film, lining and label. Bans often catch the small parts. See food packaging, napkins and bags and the wider list on what we source.
- Ask for evidence. Request certification numbers for compostable claims, material declarations for linings, and food contact compliance for each item.
- Check the end of life. SA does not allow a compostable base with a conventional plastic lid, because it contaminates both bins. Choose matched systems.
- Plan stock runouts. Time orders so non-compliant stock is used before a start date, or reallocate it to states where it remains legal.
- Put a watch on 2026 and 2027 changes. NSW Plastics Plan 2.0, ACT next steps, Tasmania's roadmap and any national harmonisation decisions are the ones to track.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a supplier's "eco" or "biodegradable" label means it meets state law.
- Buying one national range off an east coast spec, then finding the lids are banned in Perth.
- Forgetting condiment pots and sauce containers, which SA bans when filled on site.
- Treating hospital, aged care or staff canteen settings the same as retail. Some states exempt certain care settings or non-retail food, so check before you switch.
Our take
With the federal scheme on hold, the patchwork is here for a while. Operators who standardise on the strictest compliant spec now tend to avoid repeat changeovers, write-offs and inconsistent store experiences later. The best time to review a packaging range is before the next state deadline, not after it.
QSR Supplier works with QSR and foodservice businesses across Australia and New Zealand to source packaging and consumables that suit how each market is regulated. If you are reviewing your range for 2027, download the foodservice catalogue (PDF, 11 pages) or contact sales.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a national ban on single-use plastics in Australia?
No. Each state and territory sets its own bans. In September 2026 the federal government confirmed a new national packaging scheme will not be introduced this term, and environment ministers agreed to explore harmonising some bans, with no timetable set.
Which state has the strictest takeaway packaging rules?
South Australia and Western Australia. Both restrict plastic takeaway containers, cups and lids, not just straws and cutlery. SA also requires compostable alternatives to be certified to Australian standards and clearly marked.
Are compostable takeaway containers allowed everywhere in Australia?
No. South Australia accepts certified and marked compostable containers, but NSW, Victoria and WA ban compostable and bioplastic versions of many banned items such as cutlery and straws. Check each state you trade in.
Are EPS foam food containers banned in Australia?
EPS takeaway foodware is banned in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, SA, WA and the ACT. Tasmania and the Northern Territory do not yet have statewide bans in force.
What plastic bans apply to food packaging in New Zealand?
New Zealand bans polystyrene takeaway packaging, some PVC food trays, plastic drink stirrers, plastic straws (with disability and health exemptions), plastic tableware and cutlery. A wider PVC and polystyrene phase-out planned for 2025 did not proceed.
Sources
- DCCEEW, Strengthening packaging regulation
- Minister for the Environment, Next steps agreed to reform waste and recycling regulations
- ABC News, Labor quietly shelves promise to mandate more recycled material in packaging
- PKN Packaging News, Government rules out a packaging scheme this term
- NSW EPA, Plastics bans guidance
- NSW EPA, Plastics Plan 2.0
- Victorian Government, Single-use plastics ban business factsheet
- Queensland Government, Banned items
- Queensland Government, About the ban
- Replace the Waste SA, Guide to the ban on single-use plastic food containers
- Replace the Waste SA, Legislation explained
- WA Government, Western Australia's Plan for Plastics
- ACT City Services, Single-use plastics
- ACT Government, ACT invites feedback on next steps to cut single-use plastics
- NRE Tasmania, Single-use plastics next steps
- NT Government, Single-use plastics discussion paper
- NZ Ministry for the Environment, Single-use and hard-to-recycle plastic bans
This guide summarises public regulator information current at 6 October 2026. It is general information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements with the relevant state or territory regulator.