New York City Limits Single-Use Plastic Utensils - Oceana

Victory | January 20, 2023

New York City Limits Single-Use Plastic Utensils

Following campaigning by Oceana and its allies, New York City lawmakers passed a bill requiring that restaurants, food delivery apps, and online delivery platforms only provide certain single-use items — including plastic utensils and condiment packets — if requested by the customer. Single-use plastic foodware, including utensils, is a significant source of plastic waste in New York City — the largest city in the U.S. A 2022 Oceana poll found that 83% of registered New York state voters are concerned about the amount of plastic items used in food delivery and takeout, and 88% support local and state policies to reduce single-use plastic. Plastic is one of the greatest contributors to climate change and is entering the ocean at an alarming rate. Scientists estimate that 33 billion pounds of plastic wash into the ocean every year.