ACT single-use plastics ban and straws

ACT hospitality venues cannot treat plastic drinking straws as a default counter item under the ACT single-use plastics ban. The ban was introduced in phases across 2021 and 2022, and operators need straw stock that is plastic-free, fit for service, and defensible if a customer or staff member asks what it is made from.

What the ACT ban means for straw buying

For a cafe, bar, restaurant or bubble tea shop, the practical question is not whether customers still ask for straws. They do. The question is what type of straw you can keep behind the counter without drifting back into banned single-use plastic.

The ACT ban pushed venues away from conventional plastic straws and other problem single-use plastics. For straws, that means procurement has to be checked before cartons arrive, not after a staff member opens a box during service.

A compliant buying process should ask three plain questions. Is the straw plastic-free? Is it suitable for the drink menu? Can the supplier explain the material and disposal pathway without vague environmental claims?

EcoGreen Supplies sugarcane straws are made from 100% sugarcane fibre, also called bagasse. They are plastic-free, PFAS-free and have no lining, which makes the material position clear for a business buyer reviewing alternatives to plastic straws.

Sugarcane fibre is not paper and not PLA

Many venues first switched from plastic to paper because paper was easy to recognise. Paper straws can work for some drinks, but they can also soften during longer service, especially when a customer is sitting with iced drinks, cocktails or takeaway beverages.

Sugarcane fibre straws are made from bagasse, the fibrous material left after sugarcane is processed. EcoGreen Supplies straws are not coated with plastic and are not lined to hold their shape. The product is designed to hold up in drinks without relying on a hidden lining.

PLA straws are often described as plant-based, but the word plant-based does not automatically make a straw suitable under every business policy or waste system. If your venue is trying to avoid plastic-style straws altogether, ask suppliers whether the straw is actually fibre-based or a bioplastic.

For ACT operators, the safer procurement habit is to write the material requirement in plain language. “Plastic-free, PFAS-free, no lining, commercially compostable” is clearer than a broad request for eco straws.

Which straw size suits your venue?

Regular straws suit the broadest range of everyday cold drinks. EcoGreen Supplies Regular Sugarcane Straws are 6mm x 200mm and are available in 2,500 pcs for $70.00 or 5,000 pcs for $135.00. They suit cafes, takeaway counters, juice bars and casual dining venues that need a standard straw behind the counter.

Cocktail straws are shorter and suit bar service where a full-length straw looks out of place. EcoGreen Supplies Cocktail Sugarcane Straws are 6mm x 140mm and are available in 2,500 pcs for $55.00 or 5,000 pcs for $110.00. They are a practical fit for mixed drinks, short glasses and venues that want less excess straw above the rim.

Jumbo straws are better for thicker drinks where a regular straw feels too narrow. EcoGreen Supplies Jumbo Sugarcane Straws are 8mm x 200mm and are available in 2,500 pcs for $100.00 or 5,000 pcs for $195.00. They suit smoothies, frappes and venues with drinks that need more flow than a standard straw can provide.

Bubble tea needs a different straw altogether. EcoGreen Supplies Bubble Tea Straws are 12mm x 220mm and come in 1,800 pcs for $160.00 unwrapped, or 1,800 pcs for $165.00 individually wrapped. The individually wrapped option is useful where straws are handed over separately, packed with delivery orders or stored in customer-facing areas.

You can compare the core range through bulk sugarcane straw options, or go straight to regular sugarcane straws, jumbo sugarcane straws and bubble tea straws if you already know the format you need.

Will they last through service?

A straw that technically avoids plastic is not useful if staff have to replace it during a drink. EcoGreen Supplies sugarcane straws hold up for 4+ hours in hot and cold drinks without going soggy. That matters for table service, takeaway delays and customers who sit with iced drinks over time.

This does not mean every straw is right for every drink. A regular 6mm straw is not the best choice for pearls, thick smoothies or drinks with chunky inclusions. In those cases, a jumbo or bubble tea format is the better operational choice.

For hot drinks, many venues do not offer straws by default, but some customers still request them. Sugarcane fibre can handle hot and cold drinks, but the better service question is whether a straw is needed at all. Reducing unnecessary straw use is separate from replacing plastic, and both can sit in the same policy.

Staff training should be simple. Keep the right size in the right station, avoid mixing cartons, and make sure the team knows the straws are sugarcane fibre, not paper and not plastic. If customers ask, a short factual answer is better than a sustainability speech.

Compostability and what not to claim

EcoGreen Supplies sugarcane straws are certified commercially compostable. They break down in about 90 days in a commercial composting facility. That claim is specific to commercial composting conditions, not a backyard compost bin.

These straws are not certified home compostable. If your venue publishes a waste guide, menu note or tender response, do not describe them as home compostable unless you have a separate certification that says so. Being precise protects the credibility of the claim.

Commercial composting also depends on where the used straws go after service. If straws are placed in general waste, the commercial compostability certification does not mean they will break down on a known timetable in landfill. A better statement is that the straws are certified commercially compostable where a suitable collection and facility are available.

For many venues, the procurement decision is still worthwhile even if the waste stream is imperfect. Removing conventional plastic straws from the counter reduces reliance on banned or restricted items, and choosing a fibre straw avoids the confusion that can come with plastic-lined or bioplastic alternatives.

Ordering for ACT venues

EcoGreen Supplies ships Australia-wide from NSW through the One World Courier network. Standard delivery is three to seven business days, and express delivery is one to three business days. ACT venues should allow for their own stock buffer rather than waiting until the last sleeve is opened.

Freight is quoted live at checkout from the carrier’s real rates and charged at cost, with no markup. There is no flat shipping rate and no free-shipping threshold. Free warehouse pickup is available for operators who can collect from NSW.

Straws are bulky for their weight, so freight is often driven by carton volume rather than how heavy the order feels. That is one reason a live carrier quote is fairer than rolling freight into product pricing. It also lets a venue see the actual delivery charge before committing.

If you are replacing plastic straws across more than one site, order by use case rather than by habit. A cafe may need regular straws only. A bar may need cocktail straws and a smaller amount of regular straws. A bubble tea shop should start with 12mm bubble tea straws rather than trying to make jumbo straws do the wrong job.

A simple counter policy for staff

A clear straw policy helps staff answer questions without improvising. For example: “We use sugarcane fibre straws. They are plastic-free, PFAS-free, have no lining and are certified commercially compostable.” That is enough detail for most customers and avoids claims that are hard to prove at the counter.

If a customer asks whether the straw is paper, staff can say it is sugarcane fibre, also known as bagasse. If they ask whether it goes in home compost, the honest answer is that it is certified for commercial composting, not certified home composting.

For ACT venues, the best approach is to make the compliant option the normal option. Keep plastic out of ordering systems, match straw sizes to the drink list, and review cartons when they arrive. If a product description does not clearly state the material, lining and compostability pathway, ask before buying.

For help choosing the right format for an ACT venue, contact [email protected]. Include your drink menu, whether straws are self-serve or staff-issued, and whether you need wrapped or unwrapped bubble tea straws.