On Thursday the New York City Council voted on the “Skip the Stuff” legislation to decrease plastic waste in New York City. The bill has been approved by the City Council and is currently awaiting action by mayor Eric Adams.
The legislation prohibits restaurants, third-party food delivery services, and courier services from providing eating utensils, napkins, condiment packets, and extra food and beverage containers to customers with their take-out and delivery orders unless specifically requested.
“The ‘Skip the Stuff’ legislation is a great example of smart, green policy that will allow us to reduce waste and help our city’s small businesses save on costs,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams, in a statement.
More than 320 million tons of plastic are consumed each year globally, with 95 percent of plastic only used once and 14 percent for recycling, according to data from the NYC Council. The “Skip the Stuff” legislation would decrease the amount of plastic in the local waste stream, and it would reduce expenses for food service establishments.
The bill also includes a defense for foodservice establishments if they provide the prohibited items but were given incorrect information from third-party platforms. The law would include a warning period before fully going into effect.
“Int 559, also known as ‘Skip the Stuff,’ will put money back into the pockets of our small businesses while also minimizing our City’s carbon footprint and make New York a more sustainable city,” said Council Member Marjorie Velázquez, in a statement. “If we continue the use of single-use plastics and other additions, we will feel the negative repercussions through our environment and our local businesses. We must work together to keep and maintain a clean city, not just for ourselves, but for future generations.”
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