FAQs
When will the regulations covering products to be banned in 2024 and 2025 be consulted on?
As per the state government’s 4 November 2022 announcement, stage 4 items are proposed for phase out by 1 September 2024, and stage 5 items are proposed for phase out by 1 September 2025.
Draft regulations for stages 4 and 5 will be released for public consultation well in advance of September 2024 and September 2025 respectively.
To receive status updates on stage 4 and stage 5 items, including notification of consultation on these regulations, join the Replace the Waste mailing list or follow Replace the Waste on Facebook
Key announcements regarding the single-use and other plastic products legislation will also continue to be published on the Replace the Waste website.
How can I access the current legislation on single-use and other plastic bans?
The current Act and Regulations are both available online:
Where can I find further information about the impacts of single-use and other plastic products?
For a summary of the adverse impacts of single-use and other plastic products, including stage 3 items, see the Turning the tide: the future of single-use plastic in South Australia (2021) discussion paper.
Where can I find information on non-plastic alternatives to single-use plastic plates, bowls, cotton buds and pizza savers?
The Replace the Waste website includes examples of identified alternatives to a range of single-use and other plastic products, including cotton buds, plates, and bowls.
Alternative serving arrangements for takeaway pizzas are discussed at page 28 of the Turning the tide: the future of single-use plastic in South Australia (2021) discussion paper.
Why are expanded polystyrene bowls and expanded polystyrene plates excluded from the draft regulations?
The SA Government has already banned the sale, supply or distribution of expanded polystyrene cups, bowls, plates and clamshell containers in South Australia from 1 March, 2022. Learn more.
The draft regulations exclude ‘expanded polystyrene bowls’ and ‘expanded polystyrene plates’ from the definitions of ‘single-use plastic bowls’ and ‘single-use plastic plates’ as those products are already separately specified as prohibited plastic products in the Single-use and Other Plastic Products (Waste Avoidance) Act 2020 (see Part 2 – Prohibited plastic products 1(e) and 1(f)).
How is plastic defined in the South Australian legislation?
Plastic is ‘a material made from, or comprising, organic polymers, whether plant extracts* or of fossil fuel origin’.
*Other terms for plant extracts include ‘bioplastic’ and ‘bio-based’. Certified compostable plastic products are considered to contain plant extracts and are therefore prohibited under South Australia’s Single-use and Other Plastic Products (Waste Avoidance) Act 2020 and Single-use and Other Plastic Products (Waste Avoidance) Regulations 2021, unless where exemptions apply.
For further information on the definition of plastic, visit the Replace the Waste website.
