Sydney Café Packaging Rules: NSW Bans and Waste Rules

Sydney cafés follow the NSW single-use plastics bans, which since 1 November 2022 have covered plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, most bowls and expanded polystyrene (EPS) food service ware. The City of Sydney also sets business waste collection rules, and NSW food waste separation rules phase in by bin size.

*Checked against official sources on 24 October 2026. Rules change — confirm with the regulator before relying on this. This is general information, not legal advice.*

Key takeaways

• The single-use plastic bans in force in Sydney are NSW Government legislation, and the City of Sydney business waste guide links to the state bans.
• Plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, bowls (except bowls with spill-proof lids) and EPS food service ware have been banned in NSW since 1 November 2022.
• City of Sydney businesses arrange their own commercial waste collection, and every bin must be labelled.
• NSW food businesses must separate food waste in stages from 1 July 2026, based on weekly general waste bin capacity.
• Plastics Plan 2.0 changes listed for 2028 and 2030 are planned, not in force.

Which single-use items are banned for NSW cafés?

According to the NSW EPA, lightweight plastic bags with handles (other than barrier bags) that are 35 microns or less thick at any part of the bag have been banned since 1 June 2022.

From 1 November 2022, the NSW EPA banned single-use plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery (including chopsticks and sporks), plates, bowls (except bowls with spill-proof lids) and cotton buds. From the same date, EPS food service ware, including cups, was also banned. The NSW EPA FAQ gives clamshells, cups, plates and bowls as examples.

The NSW EPA FAQ says they also cover versions of the banned items made from biodegradable plastic, compostable plastic (including Australian certified compostable plastic) or bioplastics, and items with a plastic lining or coating.

The NSW EPA FAQ says it is an offence to supply a banned item while operating commercially, even if it is given away free or included with another product.

Items built into packaged food or drinks by a machine-automated process, such as a straw attached to a juice box, had a transition period that ended on 1 January 2025. The NSW EPA packaged food guidance says they can no longer be supplied.

What is not banned, and what exemptions apply?

The NSW EPA FAQ lists items not currently banned:

• single-use plastic bowls and plates designed to have a spill-proof lid, such as takeaway soup bowls
• serving utensils such as salad servers or tongs
• EPS fresh produce trays (for example for raw meat and seafood) and EPS packaging, including consumer, business-to-business and transport packaging.

Plastic straws on request. Under the straw exemption, cafés may give a single-use plastic straw on request to someone who needs one because of a disability or medical need. The NSW EPA FAQ says staff don't have to ask why, and straws must not be on display or freely available. The NSW EPA straw exemption guidance names cafés among the businesses this applies to and recommends not asking for proof, for privacy reasons.

Bowls and cotton buds. The NSW EPA exemption guidance allows plastic cotton buds and bowls for medical, scientific or forensic purposes, but not for food or beverage service.

Does the City of Sydney have its own packaging rules?

The City of Sydney business waste guide describes the single-use plastic bans as NSW Government legislation and links to the state bans. The guide also sets out these waste collection requirements:

• business rates don't cover waste and recycling, so you must arrange your own commercial waste collection and show the collection contract if the council asks
• every business bin must show the business name and address and the waste contractor's name
• bins must be stored inside the premises and brought back in right after collection.

Where does used café packaging go in Sydney?

The City of Sydney business waste guide says compostable packaging can't be composted in NSW commercial processing facilities and must go to general waste. It also says takeaway coffee cups can't go in co-mingled or paper/cardboard recycling bins, and clear plastic takeaway containers are recyclable only if all food and drink is removed.

When do NSW food waste (FOGO) rules apply to my café?

The NSW EPA business food waste page says food businesses, including cafés, must separate food waste from general waste in stages based on weekly general waste bin capacity:

• 3,960L or more: from 1 July 2026
• 1,980L or more: from 1 July 2028
• 720L or more: from 1 July 2030.

The City of Sydney food waste page gives the same thresholds and says, as a guide, a business filling about one 660L bin a day is likely in the first (1 July 2026) phase. Councils regulate these requirements in their area. The NSW EPA says the initial focus is education and support, although penalties apply.

What changes are planned under the NSW Plastics Plan 2.0?

On 22 October 2026 the NSW Parliament passed the Environment Legislation Amendment (Plastic Reduction and Container Recycling) Bill 2026. The NSW EPA Plastics Plan 2.0 page describes it as the first stage of the plan, covering helium balloon releases and scaling up reusable cups. The pages checked give no commencement date, so treat its reusable-cup provisions as not yet in force.

The plan's timeline also lists these planned changes. They are not law yet, and exact start dates are not fixed:

• Late 2027: a reuse-only precinct in the Sydney CBD.
• 2028: regulations to start phasing out all plastic bags with handles (any thickness), plastic pizza savers, plastic bread-bag tags, and expanded or foamed plastic food supply and service items such as food trays, each after an 18-month transition from when the regulations are made. Also listed: food service businesses accepting customers' reusable cups for takeaway drinks, and single-use plastic cups, food containers and lids having to be recyclable and carry disposal labelling.
• 2030: large food service businesses offering reusable cups as part of a reuse system, recyclability and disposal labelling for single-serve plastic condiment packages, tethered lids on plastic drink containers of 1.25L or less, and a product stewardship scheme for plastic takeaway cups and food containers.

Sydney café rules at a glance

What Packery stocks

These are some of the paper, wood, sugarcane and corrugated items we stock. Check the EPA guidance yourself for how an item fits your use.

• Paper Straws – Black Regular All (Carton of 2500): paper, $33.69 a carton ($0.01 each)
• 140mm Wooden Cutlery – Coffee Stirrer (Carton of 10000): wood, $35.36 a carton ($0.004 each)
• Wooden Cutlery – Spoon Napkin Set (Carton of 400): wood, $26.49 a carton ($0.07 each)
• Wooden Cutlery – Spoon Fork Knife Napkin Set (Carton of 400): wood, $61.66 a carton ($0.15 each)
• 9in Sugarcane Plate – Unbleached Round (Carton of 500): sugarcane, $56.25 a carton ($0.11 each)
• 9x6x3 Sugarcane Takeaway Container – Unbleached Clamshell (Carton of 200): sugarcane, $37.40 a carton ($0.19 each)
• Corrugated Takeaway Container – Brown Snack Box Large Plain (Carton of 200): corrugated, $40.66 a carton ($0.20 each)

Browse the full range of takeaway containers, or read Takeaway Containers Bulk: Trial One Carton of Each First and Small Takeaway Containers for Sides and Kids Meals.

Ordering

Everything is sold by the carton, and each product page shows the carton price and the price per item. There is no minimum order. All orders are prepaid online. Delivery is a flat fee set by your postcode, and free once an order passes a set amount; checkout shows the exact cost, and today's rates are on the shipping page.

Setting up or restocking your packaging?

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