Plastic cutlery and polystyrene cups first to go under single-use plastics ban

Vegetable and fruit bags will also be phased out, a decade after the territory first banned single-use plastic bags.

The Barr government will introduce a bill to ban the sale and distribution of single-use plastics in the first quarter of 2020. It is hoped the laws would pass mid 2020.

The ban would apply to specific items where there is an alternative available.

It will come in gradually, with a transition period so people could use items they already have and a focus on "education over compliance".

In the first year, only plastic cutlery, expanded polystyrene takeaway food and beverage containers and plastic stirrers would be banned.

Recycling and Waste Reduction Minister Chris Steel said items like polystyrene cups were a "relic of the past".

"[They] will be banned immediately because they are not sustainable, and there are clear alternatives already available," Mr Steel said.

One year after the laws pass, the ban would be extended to plastic fruit and vegetable barrier bags, oxodegradable plastic products, and plastic straws.

This would make the ACT the first jurisdiction in Australia to ban fruit and vegetable barrier bags, Mr Steel said.

It would also come 10 years after the ACT first banned lightweight polyethylene polymer plastic bags, less than 35 microns in thickness.

The ACT originally chose not to ban barrier bags due to the risk of contamination.

The 12-month lag would give supermarkets and grocers time to find alternatives.

The straw ban has also met with resistance from disability groups, who say plastic straws are needed for people who have difficulty swallowing or have limited hand movement.

A government discussion paper admits alternative straws do not offer the same utility as plastic straws for those that require their use because of a disability or a medical reason.

Disability Minister Suzanne Orr said the government would create an exemption to ensure people with a disability still had access to plastic straws if they needed them. However it is unclear how such an exemption would work.

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"We've heard from the community that, for people with disability, there isn't always an alternative option to plastic straws. With this in mind we will work alongside people with disability and their advocates to ensure this legislation works for people with disability, so our city stays the most inclusive city in Australia, while at the same time we protect our environment," Ms Orr said.

The ACT would also consider banning plastic-lined coffee cups and lids, single-use plastic dinnerware, more heavyweight plastic bags and cotton ear buds with plastic sticks in future.

Mr Steel said the government would see how the Green Caffeen "swap and go" coffee cup scheme went before making a call on phasing out disposable coffee cups. The scheme is starting in Canberra cafes this month.

"In relation to plastic plates, the government is concerned about plastic dinnerware alternatives contaminating paper and cardboard waste streams following the COAG waste export ban," Mr Steel said.

The ACT government first flagged plans to phase out single use plastics in October.

It unsuccessfully argued for a national phase-out at the last meeting of environment ministers in November.

The ban will not be the only way the ACT government will crack down on the use of single-use plastics.

It will make all government events single-use plastic free, starting with its new winter festival, FYI Canberra.

The government is also exploring options to trial single-use plastic free precincts, building on the reusable coffee cup scheme. It will also roll out more recycling bins through the city and in highly frequented areas.

Government directorates will also be required to cut back on single-use plastics where they can.

Even Canberra Health Services - which uses sterile single-use items in its hospitals - will replace plastic straws with paper straws, while keeping a small stock of plastic straws on hand for patients with specific needs.

Canberra Health Services will also trial reusable alternatives to to single-use plastic dinnerware and replace polystyrene cups with recyclable ones.