On August 1, 2026, New Jersey’s statewide Skip the Stuff law took effect, requiring food-service businesses to provide single-use items, including utensils and condiment packets, only when customers request them. Taking it one step further, full-service restaurants with a seating capacity of ten or more must now use reusable utensils for dine-in. The law shifts the default from “include it” to “skip it,” helping prevent unnecessary waste at the source. The statewide law is the result of years of local and community action. At the 2025 Beach Sweeps, volunteers collected 1,858 plastic utensils. By the end of 2025, more than 60 New Jersey municipalities had adopted Skip the Stuff ordinances or resolutions.  

For example, Long Branch, NJ,  passed an ordinance which went into effect in May 2025, roughly one year ago. To garner insights on the potential results of this new statewide legislation, COA's Summer 2026 Marine Debris Intern, Adriana Whelan, interviewed 30 businesses of various sizes and types, seeking insights on the how well the town ordinance was working. The survey evaluated the reduction in single-use utensil distribution and the corresponding cost savings achieved by businesses ordering fewer disposable items.

Adrianna’s research revealed that in just over one year, 119,485 single-use utensils were eliminated from the 20 restaurants who participated in the survey, resulting in $5,271 in savings. While this represents a small percentage of businesses, her study shows the promise of Skip the Stuff: less waste, lower costs, and cleaner communities and waterways.

Learn more about business guidance, consumer information, and violation reporting at https://dep.nj.gov/get-past-plastic/condiments-utensils-straws/