Wooden or steel utensils instead of black plastic ones
Black plastic spatulas and spoons can contain flame retardants from recycled electronics, and heat helps them move into food. Wood or stainless steel avoids…
Cutlery, straws and cups
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British Columbia Single-Use and Plastic Waste Prevention Regulation (B.C. Reg. 254/2023)
British Columbia bans plastic checkout bags and plastic single-use cutlery, restricts foam takeaway ware, and sets minimum charges for paper and reusable bags.
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Northern Territory plastic bag ban and proposed single-use plastics ban
The Northern Territory has banned lightweight plastic shopping bags since 1 September 2011 but, as at September 2026, has not legislated the single-use plastics…
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Tasmania plastic bag ban and proposed single-use plastics ban
Tasmania has banned lightweight plastic shopping bags since 1 November 2013 but, as at September 2026, has no state-wide ban on other single-use plastics;…
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Australian Capital Territory single-use plastics bans
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) banned plastic cutlery, stirrers and polystyrene foam food containers from 1 July 2021, adding straws, cotton buds and oxo-degradable…
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UK single-use plastics bans (plates, cutlery, polystyrene foam, straws, microbeads)
England banned plastic plates, cutlery, balloon sticks and polystyrene foam cups and containers from October 2023, following straws, stirrers and cotton buds in 2020…
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EU Single-Use Plastics Directive (2019/904)
Bans plastic cutlery, plates, straws, stirrers, cotton buds and expanded polystyrene (foam) food containers across the EU. Bottle caps must stay attached, and bottles…
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Italy plastic tax on single-use plastic items (MACSI)
Italy’s EUR 450 per tonne tax on single-use manufactured plastic items has been postponed repeatedly and is now due on 1 January 2027.
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South Australia single-use plastics bans
South Australia was the first Australian state to ban single-use plastics, from 1 March 2021, and has since extended the list in annual tranches…
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Victoria single-use plastics bans
Victoria banned straws, cutlery, plates, stirrers, cotton buds and polystyrene foam food containers from 1 February 2023 and ended the exemption for items integrated…