Single-use Plastic FAQs - Business and Industry Support

Stop ordering items that will soon be banned and speak to your supplier about alternative products that could be used by your business. See 'What questions should I ask my supplier when ordering alternatives to the prohibited items' below.

Consider how you could move to serving in reusable options and reduce use of alternative single-use products.

The government established a stakeholder taskforce to help inform the development of the legislation in 2019 and then provide advice to government on the addition of more prohibited plastic products. The taskforce comprises representatives of business, industry, local government and industry groups.

When ordering alternatives for the prohibited products, ask your supplier if the items meet the requirements of South Australia’s legislation.

View our guides to assist businesses and suppliers.

South Australia’s legislation prohibits the sale, supply and distribution of both fossil fuel derived plastic and plant-based plastics.

There are exemptions in place for Australian Standard certified compostable plastic for the following items:

• Barrier bags used for fruit, vegetables, nuts, confectionery, meat, poultry, dairy and fish (including seafood)
• Shopping bags
• Hot and cold beverage cups and their lids
• Food containers used for ready-to-eat takeaway food

For further information, see the guidelines.

Other prohibited plastic products are NOT permitted to be made from or contain bioplastic (including AS certified compostable plastic). This includes:

• plastic straws (see exemption)
• plastic cutlery
• plastic stirrers and beverage plugs
• plastic plates
• plastic pizza savers.

Other questions to ask your supplier

• Are the items food grade quality?
• Are there glues or other additives/bonding polymers used in the product?
• Do the items have a food grade/safe certification?
• Do wooden cutlery and paper straw products have Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification? This ensures that paper and wood products do not contribute to environmental destruction or habitat loss.

It is an offence for a supplier to falsely claim that a product is not prohibited. If the business can prove that it believed on reasonable grounds that the product was not a prohibited single-use plastic product, it will not be held liable. 

You will not be permitted to supply or sell excess stock to South Australian businesses or community organisations after the ban comes into effect. 

Talk to your supplier about options to return excess stock. There may be options for some excess stock products to be sold and supplied to interstate customers, however, check first if the same products are banned in those states and territories.

Consider if these items can be used for any other purposes prior to being discarded. Identify disposal options.

Clean EPS products (trays, gelato tubs, EPS food containers) can be recycled at the following sites:

• Northern Adelaide Waste Management Authority (NAWMA)
  Gate 3, Bellchambers Road, Edinburgh North
• Electronic Recycling Australia 08 83742276
  301 Grand Junction Rd, Ottoway 5013
• Hackham Recyclers  08 8384 8667
  16 Cottage Lane, Hackham 5163
• Adelaide Hills Waste Resource Management  08 8339 4323
  Scott Creek Road, Heathfield 5153

For household quantities of excess stock, check the Which Bin website for disposal options.

For large or commercial quantities of excess stock (excluding EPS), contact:

YCA Recycling
16-20 Johansson Road
Wingfield SA 5013
admin@ycarecycling.com
08 7123 3722

Contact Green Industries SA via email or on 08 8204 2051 if you are seeking further advice on managing this excess stock.

From 1 March 2022, it is an offence to distribute oxo-degradable products outside of South Australia, whether interstate or overseas. With similar regulations in place in other jurisdictions, options for managing leftover oxo-degradable products are limited.

Please dispose of the items in a general waste to landfill bin or contact Green Industries SA via email or on 08 8204 2051 if you are seeking further advice on managing this excess stock.

Note: Oxo-degradable products are not designed to break down in industrial composting facilities and are considered a contaminant in the recycling stream. They must not be disposed of in the kerbside green organics bin and must not be disposed of in home composting systems.