WA changes law on takeaway coffees in environmental crackdown

The way you drink coffee in this one Aussie state has dramatically changed this week.

Single-use, non-compostable coffee cups are now banned in Western Australia, with the country’s first ban on plastic-lined takeaway cups now in place. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Single-use, non-compostable coffee cups are now banned in Western Australia, with the country’s first ban on plastic-lined takeaway cups now in place.

WA became the first state to introduce the ban on the coffee cups on Friday, with businesses who fail to comply facing the threat of hefty fines up to $25,000, and indivduals at risk of a $5000 hit.

Cafes can instead use compostable paperboard cups, which are exempted from the ban, but are being urged to encourage customers to bring their own keep cups.

Takeaway coffee cup lids now need to be made from either paper or bagasse, a by-product of sugarcane.

The state’s Environment Minister, Reece Whitby, said the latest move was part of the Cook government’s wider push to crack down on single-use plastics in the state.

Plastic-lined coffee cups are now banned in WA. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

The coffee cup ban is the second phase of WA’s Plan for Plastics, which Mr Whitby said had already led to 430 million fewer single-use plastic products like takeaway containers, disposable plates and cutlery and thick plastic bags from going to landfill each year.

“This ban complements the ban on cotton buts with plastic shafts, degradable plastic and microbeads that have already been implemented in WA,” he said.

“The state government will continue to work with retailers and the community to ensure that the changes are well understood and implemented successfully.”

The government ordered businesses to start phasing out the cups early last year.

A consultation paper in 2022 found people in WA used 182 million coffee cups per year.

Friday’s change will not be the last for the state, with more bans set to take effect later this year.

From September 1, WA will also ban non compostable produce bags, plastic lids for takeaway food containers, bowls, plates and trays.

Plastic bowls, plastic takeaway food containers and plastic-lined paper cartons, such as those typically used for single-serve noodle dishes, will also be banned.

While WA is the first to ban the non-compostable cups. South Australia is not far behind, with similar rules to come into force from September.

NSW and Victoria are yet to commit to any sort of ban.