WA Plastics Ban

The WA Government has been phasing out single-use plastics as part of the WA's Plan for Plastics Strategy.

From 1 July 2022, the following plastic items will be banned from WA:

  • All plastic shopping bags (with handles)
  • Single-use straws, stirrers and cutlery
  • Single-use food ware
  • Expanded polystyrene

And from from 1 October 2022:

  • Disposable plastic cups (for cold drinks)

It will be illegal to provide these items after these dates.

For further information about exemptions and details on acceptable alternatives, please visit the WA Plastics Ban website. 

Stage 2 of the WA Plan for Plastics commences from 27 February 2023. 

If you're planning an event, activity, workshop or other meeting with catering make sure you're up to date with what's in and what's out!

Stage 2 takes action on plastic microbeads, lids, coffee cups, expanded polystyrene packaging and cups, degradable plastics, produce bags, cotton buds with plastic stems and trays. Multiple enforcement deadlines will apply from September 2023 to July 2025. 

►What is being banned in Stage 2 of the Plan for Plastics?

The Environmental Protection (Prohibited Plastics and Balloons) Regulations 2018 are being amended to implement the bans. Stage 2 of the Regulations will start on 27 February 2023, with enforcement of the bans to commence at different times between 2023 and 2025, depending on the banned items.

Under Stage 2, the Regulations will ban the following single-use plastic items:

• degradable plastics

• loose-fill expanded polystyrene (EPS) packaging

• moulded EPS packaging

• EPS cups

• EPS food packaging trays for raw meat and seafood

• trays for takeaway food not covered in Stage 1

• produce bags

• cotton buds with plastic stems

• microbeads in rinse-off products

• coffee cups and lids for hot and cold cups

• lids for takeaway food containers, bowls, plates and trays.

►When will bans start?

Bans for the following items will start on 1 September 2023:

• degradable plastics

• loose-fill expanded polystyrene (EPS) packaging

• EPS cups

• EPS food packaging trays for raw meat and seafood

• cotton buds with plastic stems

• microbeads.

In response to the feedback received in the Stage 2 consultation, the regulations have been designed to allow more time for businesses to run down supplies, design new processes and source alternatives.

Enforcement for the following items will start on 1 March 2024:

• produce bags

• coffee cups and lids for hot and cold cups

• trays not covered in Stage 1.

Enforcement for the following items will start on 1 September 2024:

• lids for takeaway food containers, bowls, plates and trays.

The ban on moulded EPS packaging aligns with the National Roadmap for EPS implemented by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation and enforcement will start on 1 July 2025.

►What are the fines/penalties relating to banned single‑use plastic items?

There are penalties for the sale and supply of banned single-use plastic items:

• Prescribed plastic items, degradable plastic items, microbead products, prescribed expanded plastic packaging, or plastic bags must not be supplied by a business or undertaking – $5,000

• Suppliers and manufacturers of prescribed plastic items, degradable plastic items, microbead products, prescribed expanded plastic packaging, or plastic bags must not give any false or misleading information – $5,000

• Plastic straws are not to be supplied by a business or undertaking – $5,000 (exemptions apply)

• Release of gas-filled balloons – $5,000.

Enforcement of penalties will be in accordance with the department’s Compliance and Enforcement Policy. The department will take an education-first approach as part of the introduction of these changes.  For more information, visit the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s website: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/document-collections/stage-2-single-use-plastics-ban-fact-sheets-and-faqs

SJ Plastic Free Living Program 2023

The Shire has received WasteSorted funding for a series of free community waste education workshops, culminating in a Plastic Free Forum Event to be held alongside the Mundijong Markets on 01 July 2023 in partnership with the SJ Food Farm Alliance and SJ Community Resource Centre.  For more information on this community education program Click Here

Other Plastic Free Initiatives

There are a number of organisations which provide information about plastics free initiatives including:

  • WA Plastic Free - Supports food retailers assisting them to switch from single-use plastics to better alternatives and empowering them to become 'Plastic Free Champions'.
  • Boomerang Alliance - Empowers communities to make lasting changes towards a circular economy.
  • Plastic Free July - Global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution.
  • Responsible Cafes - Network of cafes that encourages behaviour change and rewards customers for bringing their own cups.
  • Closed Loop - Deliver tailor-made, cost effective and sustainable solutions for packaging, recycling and waste management.
  • Plastic Oceans - Australasian organisation that works to change the world's attitude to plastic within a generation.