🐝Garden State Leads the Nation With Strongest “Skip the Stuff” Law🍴
On January 19th, outgoing New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed the strongest Skip the Stuff law in the country (S3195/A5157). The common-sense law cuts unnecessary plastic at the source by making single-use utensils and condiment packets available only when customers ask for them. This new statewide law builds on the successful passage of OVER 60 local Skip the Stuff Ordinances!!! 👏
A Win for the Environment, Businesses and Garden Staters 🏆
Skip the Stuff is a practical solution that switches takeout accessories from an opt-out to an opt-in model. Plastic forks, knives, spoons, and condiment packets will no longer be automatically thrown into takeout bags for customers to then toss into a “junk drawer” for a period of time and ultimately into the trash. Instead, customers simply ask for utensils or condiments, if they want them.
Plastic utensils are among the most common items found during beach cleanups. According to New Jersey nonprofit Clean Ocean Action, volunteers removed 2,193 plastic forks, knives, and spoons from New Jersey beaches in 2024 alone, and nearly 37,000 utensils over the past decade.Those small items add up quickly, contributing to plastic pollution in beaches and waterways.
At the same time the environment is given a break, restaurants save money by needing to purchase fewer disposable items. As Brian Thompson, Beyond Plastics NJ member and Monmouth Beach Environmental Commissioner shared, “Going green almost always saves ‘green’”. 💸
“Grassroots advocacy from Environmental Commissions, Green Teams, students, and volunteer environmentalists were instrumental in getting this bill over the finish line...NJ citizens are signaling they want less plastic, less waste and cleaner natural resources.”
Marta Young, NJ Zero Waste Director at Clean Water Action and Lois Kraus, co-founder of Beyond Plastics NJ, were honored with the coveted Environmental Achievement Award on Friday, Oct. 10, at ANJEC’s Annual Environmental Congress, where 200 local and state environmentalists from throughout New Jersey gathered to celebrate their accomplishments, learn from environmental experts and interact with state and federal policymakers.
The Grassroots Are Mighty!
This victory didn’t happen overnight. It is the result of years of diligent and thoughtful organizing within a robust coalition. Clean Water Action led the way and contributing groups included Beyond Plastics New Jersey, Surfrider Foundation Jersey Shore Chapter, Sierra Club New Jersey Chapter, along with other grassroots groups, Environmental Commissions, Green Teams students and individual volunteers.
Getting a good bill to rally behind also requires dedicated legislative champions. Prime Senate Sponsors Bob Smith and Raj Mukerji, along with Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill, were crucial in advancing the bill, and everyone was grateful for then Governor Murphy’s signature on the final day of the legislative session.
The key provisions of NJ’s new Skip the Stuff law:
Single-use cutlery and condiments only provided when requested - only types and amounts expressly requested.
Applies to take-out.
Full-service restaurants with seating capacity of 10 or more must use reusable cutlery.
Applies to food service businesses regardless of whether the customer’s meal order is placed in person, over the phone, online, or using other available means or methods. The default selection for online ordering must be “no utensils or condiments”.
A 180-day education campaign will be developed to educate people on the financial and environmental benefits of reducing single-use utensils and condiments.
This bill goes into effect on August 1, 2026.
Setting the Standard Nationwide
The persistence of campaign lead Clean Water Action and diligent on-the-ground work by grassroots groups like Beyond Plastics New Jersey, are a model for advocates wanting to see Skip the Stuff passed in their municipality or state. If YOU want to get started on a Skip the Stuff campaign, check out our toolkit and reach out to Beyond Plastics New Jersey for tips: beyondplasticsnj@gmail.com.
The Beyond Plastics Network consists of five volunteer groups which include Local Groups, Affiliates, Advocates & Organizers, Speakers Bureau, and Community Partners. The network is designed as an on-ramp to ACTION, making it easier for people to get involved in ways that align with their interests, skills, and capacity. We appreciate your support! 🙏
