NSW revises reusable cup rules after small business concerns
The NSW Government has softened its planned reusable coffee cup rules after small businesses objected to the cost and disruption. From 2028, cafes will still be able to serve dine-in customers in disposable cups, provided those cups are recyclable; customers must also be offered a mug or glass.
The earlier law prompted concern over potential fines of up to $110,000 for companies and $22,000 for individuals, as well as confusion that disposable cups would be banned outright. Small businesses will not have to buy extra cups or accept dirty reusable ones. The changes form part of a wider effort to reduce plastic waste: NSW used nearly 800 million single-use cups each year, while recycling just 14 per cent of its 891,000 tonnes of plastic waste in 2022-23.
In short
- NSW cafes can still use recyclable disposable cups from 2028.
- Dine-in customers must be offered a mug or glass.
- Small businesses will not have to buy extra cups.
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The case for
Requiring cafes to offer mugs or glasses, while allowing recyclable disposable cups for dine-in customers, could reduce plastic waste without imposing a blanket ban. Given the low share of plastic waste currently recycled, clearer rules may encourage reuse and help customers choose less wasteful options over time.
The case against
Even softened requirements can add expense and operational pressure for small cafes, especially if rules are unclear or staff must manage extra options during busy periods. Allowing recyclable disposable cups and avoiding mandatory purchases or acceptance of dirty cups may be a more practical way to address waste while limiting disruption to small businesses.
Explained simply
Single-use coffee cups are lined with plastic, which makes them difficult to recycle through ordinary paper recycling. New South Wales has been trying to cut plastic waste through rules encouraging people to use reusable cups.
The rules affect cafes and their customers, as well as the state government, which sets waste policies. Cafes are mostly small businesses, so the cost of buying extra cups and the practicalities of handling used ones have been concerns.
The issue matters because NSW uses hundreds of millions of takeaway cups each year, while only a small share of its plastic waste is recycled. The rules sit within a broader effort to reduce the amount of plastic sent to landfill and the environment.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Major backflip on reusable cup laws after flood of backlash from struggling small businesses over ‘nightmare’ mandate”.