The New South Wales government has reversed its plan to force cafes to offer customers who dine in the option of mugs and glasses instead of takeaway cups. Chris Minns’ administration will also discard a law that would have required businesses to participate in a reusable cup scheme or face a fine of up to $110,000.
Reversal Following Backlash
Labor altered its position just one week after the legislation successfully passed through parliament. The change follows intense criticism from small businesses and News Corp Australia. These proposed reforms formed part of the Minns government’s broader strategy to curb plastic waste, driven by projections that Sydney’s landfill capacity will be exhausted by 2030.
The scrapped legislation would have mandated that cafes offer mugs or glasses for dine-in customers starting in 2028. NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe stated on 2GB radio that the government will repeal the laws concerning mugs, glasses, and the potential $110,000 fine. She acknowledged that small businesses are currently under pressure and need to operate freely, adding that extensive exemptions were always intended.
Separate regulations requiring businesses to accept clean customer-provided reusable cups will remain in force, alongside a requirement that single-use takeaway cups must be recyclable by 2028. Last week, The Daily Telegraph featured a front-page headline opposing the cup mandate, publishing multiple reports from small business owners concerned about the costs of the reusable cup scheme.
Premier Defends Personal Habits
During a 2GB interview, Premier Chris Minns defended the legislation, stating that the government had no intention of eliminating disposable cups entirely. He remarked that he uses disposable cups himself and questioned whether the government effectively communicated the policy.
Sharpe noted that she spoke with Minns to question the necessity of a mandate, concluding that it was unnecessary and needed clarification. Sharpe has asked the NSW Environment Protection Authority to issue a regulatory intent statement confirming that the government is not proceeding with those specific changes. Because only two sitting weeks remain before the parliament dissolves, the formal repeal of the legislation will not occur until after the March 2027 election.
The state opposition previously stated it would repeal the laws if elected next year, arguing they impose unnecessary regulatory burdens on businesses. Sue Higginson, the NSW Greens environment spokesperson, criticized the premier’s decision, describing it as a disappointing outcome where media pressure outweighed environmental commitments. Jeff Angel, director of the Boomerang Alliance, also criticized the decision as a retreat from effective measures to reduce plastic waste in the environment.
Minns, Sharpe, and News Corp Australia were contacted for comment regarding the policy reversal.
The state government has faced recent pressure from the Coalition and One Nation, both promoting pro-small business platforms that feature significant payroll tax cuts. Additionally, Minns recently reversed changes to several local and regional rail timetables following commuter criticism, and altered parliamentary staff breastfeeding guidelines to incorporate terms such as “mother” and “breastfeeding” after opposition and media scrutiny.
