New Jersey mandates customers request single-use plastics for takeout orders
Effective Aug. 1, New Jersey diners must ask for disposable utensils, straws and condiment packets, ending the automatic provision of these items.
New Jersey’s new “Skip the Stuff” regulation, which took effect on August 1, obliges diners to request any single-use plastic items—utensils, straws, or condiment packets—rather than receiving them automatically with take-out orders. The legislation, signed by former Gov. Phil Murphy, builds on earlier bans on plastic bags, foam containers and straws, aiming to cut the state’s plastic waste footprint. Online delivery services like DoorDash and Instacart must also default to no plastic accessories unless a customer explicitly selects them.
Eat-in establishments seating ten or more patrons may only provide washable cutlery and must dispense condiments from reusable containers or full-size bottles. The NJ Department of Environmental Protection will issue a warning for a first violation, with subsequent infractions fined up to $250 per day. While many social-media users criticize the rule as overreach, some acknowledge its limited scope compared with a total ban.
Why it matters
The law seeks to reduce plastic waste by making consumers request disposable items, impacting restaurants and delivery services statewide.
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