South Australia Bans Fish-Shaped Plastic Soy Sauce Bottles Over Environmental Risks

South Australia has become the first region in Australia to ban plastic fish-shaped soy sauce bottles commonly used with takeaway sushi, effective September 1, 2025. The ban targets these small containers because their size makes them difficult to recycle, leading many to end up in waterways or landfills, where marine life may mistake them for food, posing ecological risks. This move is part of South Australia's broader environmental legislation to reduce single-use plastics, which began with banning plastic bags in 2009 and has since expanded to include straws, cutlery, and other plastic items. Despite being made from recyclable polyethylene, the tiny soy sauce bottles often evade recycling machinery sorting and persist in the environment for decades. Authorities encourage restaurants to replace these containers with larger bottles, refillable dispensers, or less harmful alternatives like sachets or compostable vessels. Other single-use plastic items, such as cutlery and straws attached to food items, are also banned under this latest initiative.