Ruqayyah Snyder
Plastic bags have been a significant source of pollution in Australia, with Clean Up volunteers reporting that 12.6% of the plastics they remove from public spaces are plastic bags. To tackle this issue, Australia's states and territories have implemented or plan to implement bans on many single-use plastics, including plastic bags. The first location in Australia to ban plastic bags was Coles Bay in Tasmania, in 2003. South Australia was the first state to ban single-use plastic bags in 2009, with the ACT following suit in 2011. Since then, several other states have introduced or announced plans to ban plastic bags, including New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory. These bans aim to reduce plastic pollution and protect Australia's unique wildlife.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First location in Australia to ban plastic bags | Coles Bay, Tasmania in 2003 |
| First statewide ban | South Australia in 2008 |
| Plastic bags banned in Australia as of July 2022 | All types |
| States/territories with plastic bag bans | Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, ACT, Victoria, NSW, Northern Territory |
| Plastic bags banned in NSW as of | 1 June 2022 |
| Plastic bags banned in Victoria as of | 1 November 2019 |
| Plastic bags banned in Queensland as of | 1 September 2021 |
| Plastic bags banned in Western Australia as of | 1 July 2022 |
| Plastic bags banned in ACT as of | 1 July 2022 |
| Plastic bags banned in South Australia as of | 1 March 2021 |
| Plastic bags banned in Northern Territory as of | 2025 |
| Plastic bags as % of country's litter | 1% in 2015-16 |
| Plastic bags as % of litter cleaned up by volunteers | 12.6% |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic bag bans in Australia are state-led
The first ban on plastic bags in Australia was enacted by the town of Coles Bay, Tasmania, in 2003. The first statewide ban was introduced in South Australia in October 2008 as part of the Zero Waste program, banning lightweight plastic bags. The ACT followed in November 2011, with exemptions for plastic barrier bags for fruit and vegetables. In 2013, Tasmania implemented a statewide ban, and in 2016, Queensland announced its intention to ban plastic bags from 2018.
In 2017, Victoria and Western Australia expressed their preference for a national ban, with Victoria introducing its ban in November 2019. Western Australia commenced its ban in 2022, starting with plastic straws, cups, plates, and cutlery. New South Wales was the last jurisdiction to implement a lightweight bag ban, with its law coming into effect on 1 June 2022.
In addition to plastic bag bans, states have also targeted other single-use plastic items. For example, Queensland has banned single-use plastic straws, drink stirrers, cutlery, plates, bowls, and cotton bud sticks, while the ACT has banned single-use plastic cutlery, straws, stirrers, plates, bowls, and heavyweight carry bags.
The state-led approach to plastic bag bans in Australia has been effective in reducing plastic pollution. By December 2018, the voluntary removal of free lightweight plastic bags by supermarket chains Coles and Woolworths led to an estimated 80% drop in plastic bag usage nationwide, resulting in 1.5 billion fewer bags entering the environment.
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Plastic bag bans in Australian states and territories
Plastic bag bans in Australia were implemented in the early 21st century by individual states and territories, rather than through federal law. The bans aim to reduce plastic pollution in the environment, both in and around Australia and globally.
Tasmania was the first state to implement a ban on plastic bags in 2003, when the town of Coles Bay banned non-biodegradable plastic bags. South Australia was the first state to implement a statewide ban on lightweight plastic bags in 2008. The ACT was the second jurisdiction to pass a law banning plastic bags, with the ban coming into effect on 1 November 2011.
In 2018, the country's two largest supermarket chains, Coles and Woolworths, voluntarily removed free lightweight plastic bags from their stores, leading to an 80% drop in plastic bag usage nationwide.
As of July 2022, Western Australia has banned all types of plastic bags. Victoria implemented its lightweight bag ban in November 2019, and New South Wales (NSW) implemented a similar ban in June 2022. NSW has also banned single-use plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, bowls, cotton bud sticks, expanded polystyrene food service items, and microbeads in cosmetics.
Queensland has banned single-use plastic straws, drink stirrers, cutlery, plates, bowls, cotton bud sticks, balloon releases, microbeads in personal care products, and expanded polystyrene food and beverage containers. The state has also introduced requirements on the durability of heavyweight plastic bags.
South Australia has banned single-use plastic straws, drink stirrers, cutlery, bread tags, non-compostable plastic cups, confetti cotton bud sticks, produce bags, pizza savers, plates, bowls, expanded polystyrene food and drink containers, and heavyweight carry bags.
The Northern Territory has committed to banning some single-use plastics by 2025 under the NT Circular Economy Strategy. Tasmania has proposed to ban single-use plastic items that have been banned in at least one other Australian state or territory, with the bans subject to public consultation.
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Single-use plastic bag legislation in Australia
In 2003, Coles Bay in Tasmania was the first Australian town to ban non-biodegradable plastic bags. In 2008, South Australia led the way in banning single-use plastic bags through the Plastic Shopping Bags (Waste Avoidance) Act 2008. The ACT was the second jurisdiction to pass a law banning plastic bags, with the ban entering into effect on 1 November 2011.
In 2013, Coles Bay was followed by the whole of Tasmania, which implemented a statewide ban. In 2016, the Queensland Government announced it would ban plastic bags from 2018, with the implementing legislation passing the Queensland Parliament on 6 September 2017.
In 2017, the country's largest supermarket chains, Woolworths and Coles, announced they would stop providing free plastic bags to customers nationwide in 2018. Woolworths and Coles voluntarily removed free lightweight plastic bags from their stores and began charging for thicker reusable plastic bags instead. This led to an estimated 80% drop in plastic bag usage by December 2018.
In 2018, the City of Fremantle attempted to introduce a citywide plastic bag ban, but this was blocked through disallowance motions in the Western Australian Legislative Council. However, in 2019, Western Australia announced it would commence a statewide plastic bag ban.
Victoria implemented its lightweight bag ban in November 2019, and New South Wales (NSW) followed suit in June 2022. In November 2021, NSW passed a law banning single-use plastics, which took effect on 1 June 2022. NSW's ban on single-use plastic items and packaging is expected to stop 2.7 billion items from entering landfills and the environment over the next 20 years.
The Northern Territory Government has committed to banning some single-use plastics by 2025 under the NT Circular Economy Strategy.
As of July 2022, all types of plastic bags are banned in Western Australia. The Australian Capital Territory Government also banned several single-use plastic items, including heavyweight carry bags, on 1 July 2022.
South Australia continues to take steps to eliminate single-use plastics, with plastic stemmed cotton buds, single-use plastic bowls and plates, and plastic pizza savers banned from 1 September 2023.
Overall, while the progress of single-use plastic bag legislation in Australia has been slow, all states and territories have now introduced or plan to introduce bans on many problematic single-use plastics.
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Plastic bag ban exemptions
Plastic bag bans in Australia were implemented in the early 21st century by the country's states and territories, rather than through federal law. The bans are intended to reduce plastic pollution in the environment.
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) was the second jurisdiction after South Australia to pass a law banning plastic bags, with the ban entering into effect on 1 November 2011. However, plastic barrier bags for fruit and vegetables are exempt.
In 2011, the Northern Territory introduced a state-wide ban on lightweight plastic bags with a thickness of less than 35 microns, including degradable bags. The ban does not include biodegradable bags.
In 2013, the Tasmanian Government introduced a state-wide ban on lightweight plastic bags less than 35 microns thick. This ban also does not include biodegradable or compostable plastic bags.
In 2016, the Queensland Government announced it would ban plastic bags from 2018, with the implementing legislation passing the Queensland Parliament on 6 September 2017. Queensland has also introduced requirements on the durability of heavyweight plastic bags.
In 2017, the Western Australian Government announced it would commence a statewide plastic bag ban on 1 July 2018. As of 1 July 2022, any type of plastic bag is banned in Western Australia.
Victoria implemented their lightweight bag ban in November 2019, and New South Wales (NSW) was the last jurisdiction in Australia to implement a lightweight bag ban effective from 1 June 2022.
From 1 January 2024, all plastic shopping bags will be banned from supply in the ACT. Similarly, from 1 September 2024, all plastic shopping bags will be banned in South Australia, except those certified as compostable.
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Plastic bag ban timeline
Plastic bag bans in Australia were implemented in the early 21st century by individual states and territories, rather than through federal law. The bans aim to reduce plastic pollution in the environment.
In 2003, Coles Bay in Tasmania became the first location in Australia to ban plastic bags. In 2008, South Australia became the first state or territory to ban plastic bags at the checkout, with retailers facing fines of up to $5,000 for distributing banned bags. The Northern Territory followed suit in 2011, with the ACT passing a similar law in the same year.
In 2013, Tasmania introduced a statewide ban on plastic bags, which came into effect on 1 November 2013. In 2017, Queensland announced it would ban plastic bags from 2018, with the implementing legislation passing on 6 September 2017.
In 2018, the two largest supermarket chains in Australia, Coles and Woolworths, voluntarily removed free lightweight plastic bags from their stores and started charging for thicker reusable bags. This led to an 80% drop in plastic bag usage by December 2018.
Victoria implemented a lightweight bag ban in November 2019. New South Wales was the last jurisdiction in Australia to implement a lightweight bag ban, effective from 1 June 2022.
In July 2022, Western Australia banned all types of plastic bags. The Australian Capital Territory Government also commenced a ban on single-use plastic items, including heavyweight carry bags, on 1 July 2022.
In November 2021, a bill was passed into law to ban single-use plastics in New South Wales, which came into effect on 1 June 2022. The state also banned single-use plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, bowls, cotton bud sticks, expanded polystyrene food service items, and microbeads in cosmetics from 1 November 2022.
Queensland's first ban on single-use plastics commenced on 1 September 2021, banning plastic straws, drink stirrers, cutlery, plates, bowls, cotton bud sticks, microbeads in personal care products, and expanded polystyrene food and beverage containers. South Australia's first ban on single-use plastics began on 1 March 2021, banning plastic straws, drink stirrers, cutlery, bread tags, non-compostable plastic cups, cotton bud sticks, produce bags, plates, bowls, and expanded polystyrene food and drink containers.
Western Australia's first ban on single-use plastic items commenced in 2022, banning plastic cotton bud sticks, cutlery, drink stirrers, produce bags, straws, non-compostable cups, expanded polystyrene food and drink containers, microbeads in personal care products, and balloon releases. Tasmania has proposed banning single-use plastic items that have been banned in at least one other Australian state or territory.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, as of July 2022, all types of plastic bags are banned in Australia.
Plastic bag bans were implemented in the early 21st century by Australia's states and territories, rather than through federal law. In 2003, Coles Bay in Tasmania was the first location in Australia to ban plastic bags.
As of 2024, Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, New South Wales, and the Northern Territory have all banned plastic bags.
The intent of the bans is to help reduce plastic pollution in the environment, both in and around Australia and globally. Plastic bags made up 1% of the country's litter in 2015-2016, and single-use plastic items and packaging make up 60% of all litter in NSW.
