Single Use Coffee Cups Program · Report

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING                                         9 DECEMBER 2025



Implementation Plan
The notified motion requests a report that details an actionable and scalable plan to support an
industry led phase out of single use coffee cups. As seen in Attachment 1, a draft strategic
implementation plan has been developed which outlines key actions across three phases of work:
   •   PHASE I - Scoping and Convening Working Group
        o This phase includes establishing a project oversight, outlining roles and responsibilities
          and initiating engagement with key service providers of coffee cup management
          systems.
   •   PHASE II-Market Research & Program Design
        o This phase includes deeper market research to summarise solution options, host a
          roundtable with industry and early adopters, survey customers and develop an internal
          rollout plan.
   •   PHASE III– Communications & Developing Resources, Graphic and Web Design
        o This phase includes developing resources for businesses and establishing a web
          presence.
   •   PHASE IV – Ongoing Consultation and Rollout Support
        o   Continued support for businesses and centres with the transition to reusable coffee cups
            and promoting successes.
Following on from the efforts of the café at the NAC, council staff, together with Plastic Free Noosa
will prioritise working with other council venues and support further investigations towards the
transition away from single use. This includes the café at the Noosa Leisure Centre and supporting
the whole organisation to move away from single use coffee cups at staff events and functions.

Council staff will also continue to push for zero waste events through an update of the events
management policy and encourage all events to go single use coffee cup free. An investment into
a mug library would help events progress in this direction.

Council Resources
It is proposed to allocate up to 3 hours per week for 6 months of staff time to assist Plastic Free
Noosa in engaging stakeholders and co-developing a reuse program for the first business cohort.
Time will be split between the Economic Development and Strategy & Sustainability branches. The
implementation timeline and the future internal rollout plan (developed at the end of Phase II) provide
further details on where Council staff time investment is needed.

Tourism Noosa Resources
Staff are available via the Plastic Free Noosa coordinator, but current budget is allocated to core
activities. Upon project commencement, Council and Tourism Noosa will define roles and
responsibilities to ensure adequate resourcing and commitment.

Funding
Additional funding is required for engagement and research to advance Phase II and Phase III. Refer
to Finance section below and implementation plan for further details.


Link to Corporate Plan
Theme No. 3 - Prosperity
Focus areas include economic development, local business, innovation, arts and culture, waste and
a circular economy.
Objective 3.7 Deliver the waste program focused on accelerating actions and solutions including
circular economy opportunities to cut waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use and
regenerate natural systems.