Businesses and waste services

Clear plastic takeaway containers are recyclable, but only if all food and drink is removed. Otherwise, they go straight to landfill.

Polystyrene containers and single-use plastic cutlery are banned in NSW.

Best actions

• Only offer dine-in customers reusable containers and cups.
• Ask customers if they need cutlery before including it in their takeaway order.
• Charge $1 or more for a takeaway container. This has proven to be more effective at instilling good habits than offering a discount to customers who bring their own containers.
• Display clear signs encouraging new and regular customers to bring their own containers. Make it obvious you accept them and think it’s great when customers do.
• Get involved in a container exchange network or explore our list of reusable product suppliers.

Next best actions

• If single-use items are unavoidable, provide paper/cardboard containers that can be recycled.
• Even though they can’t be recycled, wood or bamboo single-use cutlery is better than plastic.

Takeaway coffee cups can’t be recycled in co-mingled or paper/cardboard recycling bins.

Best actions

• Charge $1 or more for disposable cups. This has proven to be more effective at instilling good habits than offering a discount to customers who bring their own cups.
• Keep a few spare mugs on hand for regular customers who forget their reusable cups.
• Join the Responsible Cafes network or become part of a coffee cup exchange program such as HuskeeSwap.
• When organising meetings and small functions, always provide reusable cups for hot and cold drinks. Let your caterers know you want reusable cups.
• For big outdoor events, look into reusable cup deposit schemes and reusable product suppliers.

Single-use plastic straws are banned in NSW. Some exemptions apply.

Paper straws can’t be recycled. Compostable straws can’t be composted in NSW commercial processing facilities. Any straws placed into co-mingled and paper/cardboard recycling bins go to landfill.

Best action

• Provide reusable alternatives:
  • Stainless steel straws – long lifetime, extreme durability and recyclable at end of life.
  • Glass straws – durable but difficult to recycle at end of life.
  • Bamboo straws – less durable and not recyclable at end of life.

Lightweight plastic bags are banned in NSW. A lightweight plastic bag is fully or partly plastic with handles, 35 microns thick or less at any part.

Best actions

• Reuse leftover delivery boxes instead of single-use plastic or paper bags.
• Always ask customers if they need a bag before giving them one.
• Charge customers for bags, even if they’re made of paper – this is one of the best ways to change behaviour.
• When offering your customers branded bags, choose natural, renewable fibres (such as jute or canvas) and avoid anything lined with PVC.

Single-use sachets create unnecessary waste and cost more over time.

Best actions

• For takeaway food, only include condiment sachets if a customer asks for them.
• When customers dine in, buy bottled condiments in bulk and provide reusable containers such as bottles, jars and ramekins.

Cling film is very difficult to recycle and most of it ends up contaminating the environment and harming marine life.

Best actions

• Use lidded-reusable containers wherever possible. Tupperware, Pyrex, glass, stainless steel and porcelain are all great alternatives.
• Choose reusable options:
  • Beeswax wraps – good all-rounder.
  • Cotton or canvas bowl covers – best for foods that aren’t going to stay in the fridge long.
  • Silicone lids – durable but difficult to recycle at end of life.