New Rules for Takeaway Cups and Container Recycling for Businesses and Consumers
Environmental Legislation Amendment (Plastic Reduction and Container Recycling) Bill 2026
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Topics
circular economy container deposit scheme container recycling environmental protection plastic reduction reusable cups single-use plastics waste management
Introduced by: The Hon Jihad Dib MP (ALP); The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Michael Kemp NAT
“I contribute to debate on the cafe‑killer bill, the Environmental Legislation Amendment (Plastic Reduction and Container Recycling) Bill 2026.”
Jason Li ALP
“I speak in support of the Environmental Legislation Amendment (Plastic Reduction and Container Recycling) Bill 2026. This bill is about the waste we see every day. It is the takeaway cup that is carried for 10 minutes on the train and then thrown away. It is the plastic lid that slips from a bottle beside a park bench.”
Gurmesh Singh NAT
“I speak tonight in debate on the Environmental Legislation Amendment (Plastic Reduction and Container Recycling) Bill 2026. I begin with the one question the Government plainly never asked before bringing the bill into this House. It is not "Is this a good idea in principle?" but "Is it the right time to ask this of the people who will have to carry it?”
Donna Davis ALP
“I am pleased to speak in support of the Environmental Legislation Amendment (Plastic Reduction and Container Recycling) Bill 2026. The Libs and the Nats reject practical solutions to reduce waste, but they also do not want rubbish from metropolitan Sydney in their backyards. What is it that they actually want? Opposition members cannot have their cake and eat it too.”
Greg Piper IND
“I contribute to debate on the Environmental Legislation Amendment (Plastic Reduction and Container Recycling) Bill 2026. Although there are some different views, I and many other members support the bill, which aims to address the environmental impacts of plastics and the impending shortage of landfill space in New South Wales.”
“I speak in support of the Environmental Legislation Amendment (Plastic Reduction and Container Recycling) Bill 2026.”
Jacqui Scruby IND
“I support the Environmental Legislation Amendment (Plastic Reduction and Container Recycling) Bill 2026 to further reduce our reliance on plastics. As we have heard, everyone has had that moment when the penny has dropped about the extent to which we are ruining this planet with plastic waste and pollution.”
Jenny Aitchison ALP
“I was not going to speak in debate on the Environmental Legislation Amendment (Plastic Reduction and Container Recycling) Bill 2026, but I have been astounded to hear some of the contributions being made by those opposite in the Chamber, including those of the member for Oxley, the member for Coffs Harbour, the member for Tamworth and the member for Albury.”
Jenny Leong GRN
“I make a contribution to debate on the Environmental Legislation Amendment (Plastic Reduction and Container Recycling) Bill 2026 as a representative of The Greens and the member for Newtown. Before I do, I acknowledge how wonderful it was to hear the member for Maitland speak about how long people have been doing their own heavy lifting when it comes to plastics.”
Trish Doyle ALP
“It has been a very interesting and robust debate on the Environmental Legislation Amendment (Plastic Reduction and Container Recycling) Bill 2026.”
News articles and press releases
Environmental Legislation Amendment (Plastic Reduction and Container Recycling) Bill 2026
Ms TRISH DOYLE, Member for Blue Mountains — 2026-03-24
Reflecting that feedback, the implementation of the 27 actions in the NSW Plastics Plan 2.0 will be staged between now and 2030. This bill is the first stage of that implementation process. It will give effect to several of the actions in the NSW Plastics Plan 2.0 by (a) amending the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 to expand an existing ban on the release of 20 or more lighter-than-air, or helium, balloons into the open air to apply to any number of balloons; and (b) amending the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act 2021 to require takeaway food service businesses to accept and offer re-usable cup alternatives to single-use cups, with appropriate safeguards. The bill also paves the way for the implementation of other actions in the NSW Plastics Plan 2.0, including by amending regulation-making powers in the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act 2021.