What you can report
You can report single-use plastic items that are banned from sale or supply in Victoria. A banned single-use plastic item is made wholly or in part of plastic and is not reusable. The ban applies to biodegradable, degradable and compostable plastics.
This includes:
- most plastic shopping bags with handles
- drinking straws
- drink stirrers
- cotton bud sticks
- plastic plates
- cutlery, including knives, forks, spoons, chopsticks, splayds, food picks and sporks
- expanded polystyrene food service items and drink containers, including plates, cups, bowls, clam shells and covers or lids.
The ban applies to all shops, businesses, retailers and distributors, whether they sell plastic items or give them out for free. To learn more, including about obligations for business owners, visit single-use plastics.
Exceptions to the ban
Exceptions to the ban are for specific health and safety reasons, or if alternatives are not available.
There are 4 exceptions for using single-use plastic items:
- plastic drinking straws for a disability or medical need
- cotton bud sticks for testing for scientific, medical, forensic or law enforcement purposes
- cutlery in correctional and mental health facilities, to prevent physical harm or injury
- any single-use plastic item integrated into food or drink packaging by a machine-automated process – for example, a single-use plastic spoon included in a yoghurt tub (only until 1 January 2026).
How to report a banned plastic item to us
Report a banned single-use plastic item online, or call our 24-hour pollution hotline on 1300 372 842.
What to include in your report
The more information you can give us, the quicker we can respond. When making your report, tell us:
- the business name
- the address and suburb of the business
- the date you saw the banned plastic item being sold or given to someone
- what the banned item was.
You can report anonymously, but if you do we cannot send you updates about your report. We also cannot contact you if we need more information.
What happens next
After you have made a report, we send you a confirmation email with a reference number.
We go to the business to take a sample of the plastic item to determine whether it's against the law.
We take an education-first approach so that businesses are aware of their responsibilities. However, there are significant penalties for not complying with the ban. In more serious cases, we can start court action.
Impact of single-use plastics
Single-use plastics make up a third of the litter we see in our environment and are difficult and costly to clean up.
Learn more about single-use plastics and their impact on our community and environment.
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