Darwin’s hospitality venues and vendors join Plastic Free NT program

August 25, 2022

Under a program called Plastic Free NT, a number of Darwin’s cafes, restaurants and mobile food vendors are making a significant change to their takeaway menus to help reduce the problem of waste from single-use plastics.

Plastic Free NT aims to help businesses switch to better alternatives, such as reusable or compostable items.

Plastic Free Beaches in the NT is run by peak not-for-profit group Boomerang Alliance which is supported by the Northern Territory Government, Darwin City Council and funded by the Australian Government.

Tracey Adamson, Coordinator of Plastic Free NT advises “this is one of eight national projects and after just four months of operation, the NT program is performing the best.

“It shows us that the hospitality sector in Darwin is very receptive to helping get rid of plastic litter and waste.”

Since April, 39 local businesses have joined the program across Darwin and have collectively removed nearly 6000 plastic items from use, supporting the NT Government’s Circular Economy Strategy goals of phasing out and banning single-use plastics by 2025.

Saffron Restaurant is the program’s first ‘Plastic Free Champion’, having eliminated plastics from its takeaway service with some of the other 39 members including

The Harvest Press
Kopi Stop
Rigney’s Kitchen
Eva's Botanic Gardens Cafe
FilosoFood
Cafe at Harry's Place
@yogisway

Saffrron Restaurant owner, Selvam Kandasamy shares “The Plastic Free NT program is an amazing initiative for local Darwin food retailers to join.

“They offer free advice around better alternatives to make the switch from plastic to meet the business’s needs, while working with the business’ own local suppliers.

“I feel happy that we are doing something good for the environment, and our customers always give us positive feedback about being sustainability focused.”

The program is a free service for all food retail businesses in Darwin and surrounds to help them reduce plastic items commonly found in litter and waste streams.

The program targets items such as plastic water bottles, straws, coffee cups and lids, takeaway containers, and other foodware like cutlery, cups and plates as well as plastic bags.

NT Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Security, Lauren Moss notes “The Plastic Free Beaches project shows how businesses can lead the change we need to realise an economy free of single-use plastics.

“The NT Government is committed to phasing out these problem plastic items but we need the community to join us in achieving this goal.

Businesses can find out more or join via the website: and on Facebook and Instagram @plasticfreent.

Image: FilosoFood

29th July 2022 - Looking to reduce plastic cup waste Adelaide Oval will now serve alcohol in cans

19th July 2022 - Taronga offers edible coffee cups for Plastic Free July

1st July 2022 - Green Music Australia among 17 organisations campaigning this Plastic Free July

1st July 2022 - Conservationists welcome Australian Government’s commitment to addressing plastic pollution

29th June 2022 - Melia hotels launch environmental programs in Vietnam to repurpose plastic

23rd June 2022 - Australia launches new Plastics Innovation Hub in Vietnam

16th May 2022 - Belgravia Leisure explains move away from single-use plastics

14th April 2022 - Western Australian hospitality venues offered help in transition to becoming plastic free

22nd March 2022 - Federal Government invests $60 million in recycling - but is it enough to stem the tide of plastic pollution?

10th March 2022 - ACT Government’s single-use plastics ban expanded to include Manuka Oval and GIO Stadium

22nd February 2022 - 40,000 businesses across NSW to receive extra help in transitioning away from single-use plastics

3rd January 2022 - Western Australia phases out single-use plastics

9th November 2020 - Western Australian Government releases new strategy to reduce single-use plastics

15th July 2020 - Queensland Government moves to ban single-use plastics to save marine life

11th March 2020 - New CSIRO research shows ocean plastic returning to Australian coastlines

3rd February 2020 - ACT takes action to phase out single-use plastic products

13th May 2019 - City of Darwin installs Replas recycled plastic bollards at four sports ovals

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.