NSW government backflips on mandatory reusable coffee cup rule, drops 2030 requirement

Cafes will not be required to offer dine-in customers reusable cups after business groups raise concerns

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published27 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources4 outlets

The New South Wales government has reversed a key provision of its new plastic waste law, abandoning a requirement that would have forced cafes to offer dine-in customers reusable glassware or crockery by 2030, Environment Minister Penny Sharpe announced on Wednesday.

The change comes less than a week after the law was passed, following objections from small business groups, including the Australian Association of Convenience Stores, who warned it could inadvertently apply to service stations and convenience stores.

"We've listened to the concerns raised by small businesses about reusable coffee cup reforms, and we're making changes to give them certainty and confidence," Sharpe said. She confirmed cafes will not be required to offer a mug or glass to dine-in customers, and that the government will not mandate any reusable cup schemes.

Under the amended legislation, which still phases out a range of single-use plastics over coming years, takeaway coffee cups will not be banned but must be made recyclable by 2028. From that year, cafes must accept clean reusable cups such as KeepCups from customers for takeaway orders.

Theo Foukkare, chief executive of the Australian Association of Convenience Stores, said the original wording risked forcing 24-hour service stations to provide reusable cups. "Who's washing the cups?" he asked.

Other measures in the law include an immediate ban on the mass release of balloons, a ban on plastic lollipop sticks and plastic bread bag ties, a requirement for lids to be tethered to plastic bottles, and a ban on plastic microbeads in beauty and cleaning products.

The state's opposition Liberal Party has vowed to repeal the law entirely if it wins government.

NSW generated about 891,000 tonnes of plastic waste in 2022-23, only 14 per cent of which was recycled. Nearly 800 million single-use coffee cups are used in the state each year, most discarded after minutes.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The reversal shows the difficulty of regulating single-use plastics in a way that balances environmental goals with practical business concerns.
Nearly 800 million single-use cups are used in NSW each year, and the state recycles only 14 per cent of its plastic waste, highlighting the scale of the problem.
The ongoing debate signals potential for further changes if the Coalition wins the next election and follows through on its pledge to repeal.

Background

NSW has been moving to phase out problematic single-use plastics as part of a national push. The recently passed law targeted several items, but the mandate for dine-in reusable cups drew unexpected criticism from convenience stores and cafes concerned about costs and hygiene. The government has now dropped that specific requirement while keeping other plastic bans.

Key Perspectives

NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe: said the government listened to business concerns and will not force cafes to change their operations, but made clear that from 2028 disposable cups must be recyclable and cafes must accept customers' reusable cups. Theo Foukkare, Australian Association of Convenience Stores: raised practical concerns about 24-hour service stations providing reusable cups, asking who would wash them. NSW Liberals: have vowed to repeal the entire plastic law if they return to government.

What to Watch

Whether the Coalition's repeal pledge gains traction ahead of the next state election.
How cafes adapt to the 2028 requirement that takeaway cups be recyclable and that they accept reusable cups from customers.
Enforcement of the other plastic bans now in effect, including the immediate ban on balloon releases.

Sources

NSW government backflips on brand-new coffee cup law · Brisbane Times
NSW government backflips on brand-new coffee cup law · The Sydney Morning Herald
NSW government backflips on brand-new coffee cup law · WAtoday
NSW government backflips on brand-new coffee cup law · The Age

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 7 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedThe government abandoned a mandatory dine-in reusable-cup requirement that would have applied by 2030.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “one provision, that would have made it compulsory for cafes and other outlets to offer dine-in customers standard reusable glassware or crockery for tea and coffee after 2030, has been abandoned.”
SupportedCafes will not have to offer dine-in customers reusable cups after business groups raised concerns.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““I can confirm that cafes will not be required to offer a mug or glass to dine-in customers.” ... “But we’ve heard the concerns from small businesses””
Not in the sourcesThe law was passed less than a week before the government announced the change.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “a change to a new law introduced to reduce plastic waste passed last week.”
SupportedSharpe said, “We've listened to the concerns raised by small businesses about reusable coffee cup reforms, and we're making changes to give them certainty and confidence.”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““We’ve listened to the concerns raised by small businesses about reusable coffee cup reforms, and we’re making changes to give them certainty and confidence,” said NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe”
SupportedThe Australian Association of Convenience Stores was concerned the changes could inadvertently apply to its members, including service stations and convenience stores.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “This provision was objected to by some business groups, including the Australian Association of Convenience Stores, which was concerned that its members might have been inadvertently subject to the changes.”
SupportedSharpe confirmed cafes would not have to offer dine-in mugs or glasses and the government would not require reusable-cup schemes.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““I can confirm that cafes will not be required to offer a mug or glass to dine-in customers.” ... “We’re also making it clear that there will be no mandatory reusable cup schemes.””
Not in the sourcesThe changes were already made to amended legislation.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Cafes will be able to continue serving customers who chose to sit down to drink hot drinks in recyclable disposable cups in a change to a new law introduced to reduce plastic waste passed last week.”
SupportedTakeaway coffee cups will not be banned and must be recyclable from 2028; cafes must accept clean reusable cups for takeaway orders from then.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Under the new law takeaway coffee cups are not being banned, but from 2028 they must be recyclable. From 2028, cafes will need to accept KeepCups for takeaway when clean and hygienic cups are presented to staff by customers.”
SupportedFoukkare asked, “Who's washing the cups?”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““Picture a customer grabbing fuel and a coffee from a self serve machine at 2am. Who’s washing the cups?””
Partly supportedThe law requires lids to be tethered to plastic bottles.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “tethering lids to plastic bottles accepted in return-and-earn schemes”
Partly supportedThe law bans plastic microbeads in beauty and cleaning products.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “phasing out plastic microbeads from beauty and cleaning products.”
SupportedNSW generated about 891,000 tonnes of plastic waste in 2022–23, and 14 per cent was recycled.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “In 2022-23, NSW generated about 891,000 tonnes of plastic waste – almost 110 kilograms a head – but only 14 per cent of that was recycled.”