Transparent wheelie bins have been proposed by an Adelaide councillor in a bid to make residents "face their waste" and think about whether they are disposing of it correctly.

Key points: The proposal in Adelaide follows a Western Australian regional council trial in 2018

The proposal in Adelaide follows a Western Australian regional council trial in 2018 Robert Simms will lodge the motion at an Adelaide City Council meeting next week

Robert Simms will lodge the motion at an Adelaide City Council meeting next week It comes amid concern over the use of single-use plates and cutlery at eateries

Adelaide City councillor Robert Simms said clear recycling bins were about encouraging people to take notice of what they were throwing away.

"We need to do what we can to encourage positive behavioural change," Mr Simms told the ABC.

"Having a see-through bin leads people to do that, and it also builds community understanding about recycling too, because you can see what's in and what's out.

"This isn't about shaming people, or punishing people or anything like that — it's just about encouraging people to model best practice when it comes to recycling."

The former Greens senator said clear recycling bins would also "make life easier" for those who collected bottles and cans for the state's container deposit scheme — which pays 10 cents per item — as well as helping tourists to use public bins correctly.

He said he planned to lodge a motion to introduce the clear recycling bins during Tuesday's council meeting.

If the proposal is given the green light, he said the council would draw on the experiences of similar trials in other areas, such as Mindarie Regional Council in Western Australia.

"I've had lots of people say 'great idea', and a few others saying 'I don't want people to know necessarily what I'm throwing in my bin', which I can understand," he said.

"I don't know that I'd want people to be looking at my bins after a big Saturday night, looking at all those bottles piled up.

"But it is only recycling bins I'm talking about, it's not general waste."

Mr Simms said transparent bins would encourage residents to improve recycling habits. ( Supplied )

If it goes ahead, the initiative could be another way South Australia could add to its "great track record" in terms of recycling and waste management, Mr Simms said.

"We were the first state in the country to have a container deposit scheme, and that's something that has become a world leader," he said.

"We've also led the way when it comes to phasing out plastic bags, and the State Government are looking at what can be done to phase out single-use plastics.

"So, I think there is a lot of awareness around recycling, and this is just another tool in the toolkit in terms of encouraging people to think about their waste."

Controversy over plastic at Adelaide food court

The proposal comes amidst debate over the ongoing use of plastic plates and cutlery at some Adelaide restaurants.

Adelaide Hills resident Debbie told ABC Radio Adelaide that she was shocked to receive food from a popular venue near the Adelaide Central Market on single-use plastic plates.

She said the food was normally served in reusable bowls with metal cutlery, but on her latest visit it came in a "really thin plastic bowl that goes to waste".

"As we were eating there the owner of this laksa place walked past our table and apologised," she said.

"She said 'I'm really sorry but we've been told we can no longer wash plates, we have to use these plates that go straight to landfill', and she was pretty upset about it."

Environment Minister David Speirs told ABC Radio Adelaide that was "out of step with the Government's direction", and that the broader issue was currently being reviewed.

"We are well advanced in terms of our consultations and analysis around where we will go with single-use plastics," Mr Speirs said.

"In fact, some of the money from the solid waste levy will help us drive that strategy forward.

"Rest assured that things like single-use plastic, cutlery, straws, single-use plates and things like that are not the direction we want to be heading in."

Mr Speirs urged South Australian businesses to "move early", rather than being forced by the Government when its review was handed down.

"We'll be looking at banning a range of items in South Australia or phasing them out over time," he said.

Earlier this week the Government announced a rise in the solid waste levy during this week's State Budget.