Paper Straws vs Plastic Straws: Compliance and Durability Guide for Australian Businesses
Single-use plastic straws are banned across most of Australia, and PLA bioplastic straws are caught by the ban too. Here is which straws your venue can legally use, how long paper straws really last, and the aged-care exemption explained.
If you run a cafe, restaurant, bar, event kitchen or aged-care facility, the straw question is no longer about preference - it is about compliance. Single-use plastic straws have been banned in Victoria since 1 February 2023, and across most of Australia before that. Yet "plastic straws" still draws around 3,600 searches a month, which tells us plenty of venue owners are still unsure what they can and cannot legally hand a customer.
This guide clears it up for straws specifically: which materials are banned (the answer includes PLA bioplastic, which surprises most buyers), which are legal, how long a paper straw actually lasts before it softens, and how the disability and aged-care exemption works in practice. For the wider single-use plastics picture - plates, cups, cutlery and bags - see our Victoria single-use plastic ban guide for Melbourne businesses. For a broader look at tableware for venues and events, explore our Party and Disposable Tableware buying guide.
The short version
- Single-use plastic straws have been banned in Victoria since 1 February 2023, and in most other states and territories before that.
- PLA and other compostable or bioplastic straws are caught by the same ban - they are NOT a compliant swap in Victoria.
- Paper straws and reusable straws (silicone, stainless, glass) are the two compliant options for standard service.
- A disability and medical exemption applies: venues must make plastic straws available on request, kept behind the counter rather than on display.
- A standard 6mm paper straw lasts roughly 8-10 minutes in a cold drink. Wrapping, a wider bore, or kraft paper all extend that.
Which straws are banned - and which are still legal
The most common mistake we see is a venue switching from plastic to a "compostable" bioplastic straw and assuming it is compliant. In Victoria it is not. The legislation defines single-use plastic to include conventional, degradable, biodegradable and compostable plastics. In plain terms: if a straw looks and feels like plastic but claims to be made from PLA, corn, sugarcane or wheat, it is still treated as a banned plastic straw.
Banned for standard use:
- Conventional single-use plastic straws (PP, PS, PE)
- PLA and other bioplastic or "compostable plastic" straws
- Plastic bubble tea and boba straws
Legal to use:
- Paper straws
- Bamboo straws
- Reusable straws - silicone, stainless steel and glass
If a supplier offers you PLA straws as a "ban-compliant alternative", that advice is wrong for Victoria. The only plastic straws a venue may keep are for the exemption covered further down.
Across Australia
When did each state ban single-use plastic straws?
This guide focuses on Victoria, but the compliant alternatives apply nationally. Dates are the commencement of each jurisdiction's first single-use plastics ban that covered straws.
| State or territory | Plastic straws banned from |
|---|---|
| South Australia | 1 March 2021 |
| Queensland | 1 September 2021 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 1 July 2022 |
| New South Wales | 1 November 2022 |
| Western Australia | 2022 |
| Victoria | 1 February 2023 |
Tasmania and the Northern Territory were rolling out single-use plastics bans later than the states above. Always confirm current rules with your state environment regulator before a menu change.
Accessibility
The aged-care and disability exemption
The ban includes an important exemption. Venues may provide single-use plastic straws on request to a person who needs one because of a disability or a medical condition. Many people with a disability or a swallowing difficulty rely on a flexible (bendy) straw, and paper straws are not yet produced in a robust bendy form at commercial scale.
"Available on request" is the key phrase. You do not set these straws out on tables or a self-serve station - you keep a supply behind the counter and provide one when a customer asks.
- Aged-care facilities, hospitals and disability support services should stock both paper straws for standard service and plastic flexi straws for the exemption.
- Keep the plastic supply out of public view to stay within the exemption.
- A 2000-count carton of PP flexi straws covers on-request demand for a long time.
Durability
Do paper straws really go soggy?
Honestly? A cheap, thin paper straw can collapse fast - and that is where paper's bad reputation came from. A well-made paper straw is a different product. A standard 6mm paper straw holds up for roughly 8-10 minutes in a cold drink before it softens noticeably, which covers the vast majority of dine-in and takeaway service.
Three choices make a real difference:
- Bore size: an 8mm or 10mm straw has a thicker wall relative to its diameter, so it resists moisture longer - ideal for smoothies, shakes and bubble tea.
- Wrapping: an individually wrapped straw stays dry and hygienic until the moment of use, extending its in-drink life.
- Kraft vs bleached: unbleached kraft paper tends to hold its structure slightly longer than bright white.
For very hot drinks, use paper for ambient and cold service and offer a reusable option for hot.
Paper vs bamboo vs reusable - choosing by venue type
With PLA off the table in Victoria, the practical decision is between paper, bamboo and reusable straws. Each has a clear home.
Paper - the default for most venues
Paper is the workhorse. It is the cheapest compliant option per unit, stocks deep in 2500-count cartons, and comes in the full range venues need: 6mm for standard cold drinks, 8mm for shakes and smoothies, 10mm kraft for bubble tea, plus wrapped, cocktail and striped options for table service and bars.
Bamboo - the niche premium pick
Bamboo straws are rigid with no sogginess and feel premium, which suits eco-positioned bars and zero-waste events. They cost significantly more per unit than paper and are not a commodity-volume product, so they are a statement item rather than a high-throughput cafe straw.
Reusable - the zero-waste dine-in option
Silicone, stainless steel and glass straws are dishwasher-safe and last indefinitely, so the cost per use falls to near zero after the initial buy. They suit dine-in venues with dishwashing capacity, not takeaway. Keep a paper option for customers who prefer single-use.
Side by side
Straw materials compared
How the realistic options stack up for an Australian venue.
| Material | Legal in VIC? | Durability in cold drink | Compostable? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper | Yes | 8-10 minutes | Yes (certified) | Cafes, restaurants, events, takeaway |
| PLA / bioplastic | No - banned | 10-15 minutes | Yes (certified) | Not suitable for VIC venues |
| Bamboo | Yes | Rigid - no sogginess | Yes | Eco bars, zero-waste events |
| Reusable (silicone / steel / glass) | Yes | Indefinite | No (long-use offsets) | Dine-in with dishwashing |
| Plastic flexi (PP) | On request only* | Indefinite | No | Aged care and disability support |
*Plastic flexi straws are legal only when provided on request to a customer with a disability or medical need. They must not be offered as the standard straw.
Shop the guide
Compliant straws our trade customers reorder
Wholesale pricing shown ex GST. Free Melbourne metro delivery on orders over $150 ex GST.
Everyday compliant swap - 6mm, 2500 ct
Shakes and smoothies - 8mm wider bore
Bubble tea and boba - kraft wide bore
Table service - individually wrapped
Aged care and disability - PP flexi
Paper straws stock deep in 2500-count cartons - browse the full wholesale range and talk to the trade desk on 041 676 94 92.
Ready to switch your venue to compliant straws? Browse our wholesale straw range - paper straws from 2500-count cartons in 6mm, 8mm and 10mm, wrapped and cocktail variants, kraft bubble tea straws, reusable options and PP flexi straws for aged-care settings. Not sure what suits your service? Talk to the DPack trade desk or call 041 676 94 92.
Common questions
Paper straw FAQs
Do paper straws go soggy?
A standard 6mm paper straw softens noticeably after roughly 8-10 minutes in a cold drink, which covers most service. An individually wrapped straw, a wider 8mm or 10mm bore, or a kraft-paper construction all extend its in-drink life. For hot drinks, use paper for ambient and cold service and offer a reusable straw instead.
Are PLA straws legal in Victoria?
No. Despite being marketed as compostable, PLA and other bioplastic straws are caught by Victoria's single-use plastics ban. Only straws made from paper, bamboo or other non-plastic materials are compliant for standard venue use.
Can my cafe or aged-care facility still use plastic straws?
Only under the exemption. In Victoria, single-use plastic straws may be provided on request to a customer with a disability or a medical need. Venues covered by this exemption - aged care, hospitals, disability support - should keep a supply of flexible plastic straws behind the counter rather than on display.
Are paper straws compostable and recyclable?
Certified paper straws are commercially compostable and can go into FOGO organics collection where your venue participates. Clean, unsoiled paper straws can enter the paper recycling stream, but food-soiled straws that are not FOGO-certified go to landfill.
What is the widest paper straw for bubble tea?
A wide-bore kraft paper straw is the standard for bubble tea and boba in Australia. We stock kraft paper bubble tea straws in carton quantities, suitable for high-volume drinks venues.
Are bamboo straws better than paper straws?
Bamboo straws are more durable with no sogginess and feel premium, which suits eco-positioned bars and zero-waste events. They cost significantly more per unit than paper and are not available in commodity carton quantities, so paper remains the practical choice for high-volume venues.
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