New South Wales mandates recyclable takeaway coffee cups from 2028

The New South Wales government has passed legislation under its Plastics Ban 2.0 programme requiring single-use takeaway coffee cups to be recyclable from 2028. From the same date cafes must offer a mug or glass for dine-in customers and accept clean keep cups for takeaway, while reusable cup-borrowing schemes remain voluntary for small businesses. The state says almost 800 million single-use cups are used in NSW each year.

Why this mattersA staged ban on non-recyclable cups in Australia's most populous state pressures foodservice cup makers to shift material and supply chains ahead of 2028.

• NSW has passed the rules under its Plastics Ban 2.0 programme, as reported on 23 October 2026
• From 2028 single-use takeaway coffee cups must be recyclable
• From 2028 cafes must offer a mug or glass for dine-in customers instead of a disposable cup
• Cafes must accept clean, hygienic keep cups for takeaway from 2028
• Reusable cup-borrowing schemes will be voluntary for small businesses
• NSW estimates nearly 800 million single-use cups are used in the state each year

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