The NSW State Government has passed reforms to reduce plastic waste within the state with the newly released NSW Plastics Plan 2.0.

The plan, released in mid-October 2026, will encompass plastics items from bread tags to balloon sticks, microbeads and lollipop sticks, each of which will be phased out in the coming years, while soy sauce fish containers will need to be recyclable and fruit and vegetable stickers will need to be compostable by 2030.

Included in the reforms will be single use coffee cups, with current estimates placing the number used each year within NSW at nearly 800 million. Following extensive industry consultation, the reforms will be introduced gradually and will include:

• From 2028 single use takeaway coffee cups will need to be recyclable;
• From 2028 cafes will need to offer a mug or glass when customers are dining in, instead of a disposable cup, and accept keep cups for takeaway when they’re clean and hygienic;
• Voluntary reusable cup schemes, which allow people to borrow a keep up, will be introduced. However, they won’t be mandatory for small businesses.

The NSW Government will run reuse trials from 2027, where government-owned venues including stadiums and office buildings will offer beverages and takeaway food in reusable packaging that is designed to be returned, washed and reused.

NSW Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said the days of unnecessary plastics being handed out, thrown away and left to pollute our environment are coming to an end.

“The legislation we’ve just passed contains the biggest reforms of problematic plastics in a generation and has been designed in partnership with businesses and industries to support a smooth transition to reusable alternatives,” she said.

“Our wildlife, our waterways and our health will benefit from these changes.”