In order to promote sustainable development and reduce single-use plastic products, two more towns in New Jersey have joined the movement to restrict restaurants and convenience stores from providing plastic utensils and condiment packets. This initiative is called “Skip the Stuff” and advocates for providing these items only upon customer request, aiming to reduce waste and environmental pollution.
The towns of Red Bank and Garwood recently passed related ordinances, which require food establishments to only provide plastic utensils or condiments like ketchup packets when specifically requested by customers during ordering. Marta Young, a zero waste expert from Clean Water Action, emphasized that this practice not only reduces unnecessary waste but also saves restaurants money. By eliminating the automatic distribution of these items, restaurants can save thousands of dollars while benefiting customers and cleaning up the environment.
The “Skip the Stuff” movement originated in New York City and has been promoted in New Jersey, with several towns taking similar measures. Red Bank incorporated this regulation into its existing ban on single-use plastic bags. Maplewood and Stone Harbor have also implemented similar restrictions in their efforts to ban plastic bags, demonstrating a collective local effort to address plastic pollution.
In 2023, New Jersey Assemblyman Herb Conaway introduced a bill related to “Skip the Stuff,” calling for statewide legislation, but the proposal was not adopted. Currently, there is no such legislation in the New Jersey legislature. However, advocates remain optimistic, focusing on obtaining support at the municipal level. Similar initiatives to ban single-use plastic bags statewide have seen success at the local level, even without state-level legislation, contributing to environmental improvement.
Amanda Stone, the government affairs director of the New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association, emphasized the importance of allowing towns to create their own regulations on this issue, but she advocates for voluntary adoption by restaurants rather than mandatory enforcement. In reality, many restaurants had already implemented measures to reduce plastic waste, such as eliminating plastic straws and bags, even before any regulations were put in place, showing a proactive attitude.
Advocates believe that the “Skip the Stuff” movement aligns with broader efforts in New Jersey and elsewhere to promote environmental awareness and reduce plastic pollution. With increasing concern over the environmental impact of single-use plastics, similar initiatives play a crucial role in fostering sustainable practices within communities. By granting towns the power to tailor regulations and encouraging voluntary adoption by businesses, New Jersey will continue to lead the industry in environmental management and protection.