Starting next month, the practice of providing disposable cutlery and condiments to customers as standard at restaurants and other establishments throughout New Jersey will be completely banned. According to the New Jersey state government, starting August 1, all food and beverage vendors—including restaurants, cafes, food trucks, sports stadiums, and convenience stores—will not be allowed to provide disposable cutlery such as forks, knives, and spoons, as well as condiments like sauces, unless requested by the customer. This measure follows the enforcement of a state law enacted last January to reduce the use of single-use plastics.
This law applies equally to all forms of ordering, including dine-in, delivery, takeout, and drive-throughs. Disposable tableware is provided only if the customer specifically requests it when placing an order, and it is illegal for business owners to provide it proactively. Online ordering services must also operate by setting “disposable tableware not provided” as the default and allowing customers to change this setting if they wish. Businesses found violating the regulations will receive a warning the first time, but will be fined $100 per day for the second violation and $250 per day from the third violation onwards.
However, state authorities plan to conduct promotional campaigns for the first 180 days of implementation before beginning full-scale enforcement. Efforts to restrict single-use products for environmental protection are ongoing in New Jersey. Since 2022, the provision of single-use plastic bags at retail stores has been banned, and plastic straws are now permitted only upon customer request. State Senator Bob Smith, who spearheaded the restrictions on single-use tableware, emphasized, “This measure will make a significant contribution to reducing the amount of waste discarded in the community.”