Coogee cafés will no longer be required to offer mugs or glasses to dine-in customers under a withdrawn proposal, while planned changes to takeaway coffee cups remain on the timetable.
The dine-in measure was dropped on 28 October, six days after broader packaging reforms were announced. Plans for compulsory reusable-cup borrowing schemes were also abandoned, with the NSW Environment Protection Authority confirming it would not enforce the proposed scheme requirement. Cafés will still need to prepare for changes affecting takeaway service, including requirements for recyclable disposable cups and the acceptance of customers’ clean reusable cups.
Takeaway Cup Requirements Remain On The Timetable
Under the remaining plans, single-use takeaway coffee cups will need to meet recyclability requirements from 2028, subject to final regulations. Businesses will also be required to accept customers’ clean reusable cups for takeaway beverages from January 2028. Disposable coffee cups are not being banned outright. Cafés can continue using them, although future products will need to meet the relevant standards.
Packaging is one of several operating expenses facing café businesses, alongside ingredients, staffing and payment processing. The cost of changing supplies will depend on individual purchasing arrangements and the products businesses already use.
Morning Glory Café Recorded Savings From Reusable Cups
Morning Glory Café, overlooking Coogee Beach, has previously tested how greater reusable-cup use affects packaging expenses. During a three-week trial in November 2024, the café encouraged customers to bring their own cups and introduced a reusable-cup borrowing library. The campaign also included a designated day when every drink was served in a reusable cup.
According to a case study published by the NSW EPA, Morning Glory avoided approximately 700 disposable cups and lids each week, saving an estimated $140 in weekly packaging costs. The reported savings totalled $420 across the trial, based on a combined disposable cup-and-lid cost of 20 cents. Reusable cups accounted for 15.76 per cent of drinks before the campaign, increasing to 64.9 per cent by the third week. Use reached 100 per cent on the designated reusable-cup day before measuring 45.9 per cent after the campaign. The figures relate to one café’s trial and do not establish whether other Coogee businesses would achieve similar savings.
Payment And Labour Costs Also Changing
Separate changes to card payments and employment costs have taken effect during 2026. From 1 October, Visa, Mastercard and eftpos introduced rules preventing separate card payment surcharges on transactions through their networks. American Express also ended surcharging, while the Reserve Bank of Australia reduced domestic interchange fee caps.
Businesses can still account for payment processing expenses within advertised prices. The financial effect depends on each café’s payment arrangements and transaction costs. Minimum award wages increased by 4.75 per cent from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July, subject to applicable minimum-rate provisions. Payday Super also commenced in July, changing the timing of employer superannuation contributions. The next scheduled changes to takeaway cup requirements are planned for 2028, with recyclable cup standards subject to the final regulatory arrangements.
Published 28-October-2026
