Plastic cutlery, straws and drink stirrers are to be banned in South Australia.

Environment Minister David Speirs says he hopes to introduce laws banning the single-use items into the South Australian parliament next year.

The state will later move to ban polystyrene cups and polystyrene takeaway containers, but no decision has been made yet on plastic bags, coffee cups and plastic takeaway containers.

South Australia is looking to ban single-use plastics, including plastic straws, stirring sticks and cutlery. Source: Getty Images, file More

"SA is continuing to lead the nation and set the agenda in recyclables and waste management," Mr Speirs told the Adelaide Advertiser.

"We led the way with our container-deposit scheme, we were ahead of the pack on plastic bag reform and now we will lead the country on single-use plastics."

Draft legislation is expected to be released for public discussion this year.

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