A local council has endorsed a plan to further explore a transition away from single-use coffee cups.
Noosa councillors have approved a plan to prioritise $5600 to kickstart the Single-Use Coffee Cups Program, which was first floated in June.
The council is aiming to work in partnership with Tourism Noosa’s Plastic Free Noosa to drive a voluntary shift away from single-use coffee cups across the shire.
Plastic Free Noosa would be tasked with engaging industry stakeholders and developing a program for an initial cohort of businesses to transition to a reuse system.
The required funding would cover stakeholder engagement and graphic and web design, and come from Tourism Noosa’s budget for the 2025-26 financial year. Some council staff resources would also be allocated.
The plan was carried unanimously by the four councillors present at the Planning and Environment Committee meeting on December 9.
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A council officer report prepared for the meeting says the first trial of single-use cups is underway at the Noosa Aquatic Centre cafe.
“Whilst council has an ambition to lead by example, single-use coffee cups at council facilities remain at an investigative stage,” it said.
“It is acknowledged that single-use food and beverage items, such as coffee cups, do not represent a large volume of waste going to landfill. However, they are iconic, highly visible items that can serve as a catalyst for a broader transition away from generating waste after just one use.
“The shift requires behaviour change from both businesses and consumers. While not every business will be ready to transition immediately, the plan proposes working with willing participants to begin building a culture of reuse that is accessible and affordable for both customers and businesses.”
Since the notified motion was introduced in June, the report says the council has had conversations with suppliers who have shown an interest to support the roll-out of reusables.
“Two large-scale business users of disposable coffee cups have also indicated a desire to go single-use cup free,” it says.
The report says that if the required budget is unavailable, a small allocation of funds from the sustainability operational budget could be utilised. It also notes that the Plastic Free Noosa program is funded by council for a three-year period concluding in June 2026.
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Following on from the aquatic centre, the trial is set to expand to other council venues.
“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 cafe at the Noosa Leisure Centre and supporting the whole organisation to move away from single-use coffee cups at staff events and functions,” the report says.
More than 1.8 billion coffee cups are discarded in Australia each year.
“This project is seen as a simple yet potentially impactful way for council and the community to demonstrate and reinforce their commitment to sustainability,” the report says.
“By turning everyday habits into visible, tangible actions, it highlights Noosa as a destination that values both the natural environment and the long-term impact of consumption.”
