Bill Bans Disposable Silverware For Prince George's Diners Unless Specially Requested

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — To help reduce waste, starting June 1, Prince George’s County food service businesses cannot provide disposable tableware with take-out or delivery orders unless specifically requested by a customer in person, over the phone or online.

County bill CB-014-2022 applies to all food service businesses, including full-service, fast food, cafés, delicatessens, coffee shops, supermarkets, grocery stores, vending trucks or carts, food trucks, and cafeterias. It also applies to those entities operated by or on behalf of county departments and agencies selling or providing food for consumption on or off the premises that provide prepared or ready-to-eat food, according to the government.

Enforcement of the rule will start Oct. 1. Those in violation of the law will be subject to a fine:

• 1st time violators will receive a warning
• 2nd time violators will receive a $250 fine
• 3rd time violators will receive a $500 fine

“These items are designed to be used once and discarded, contributing to contamination in our recycling stream,” Andrea Crooms, director of the Prince George’s County Department of the Environment, said. “Supporting this waste reduction and reuse culture will help our materials recycling facility operate more efficiently and keep waste and litter from ending up in our communities, streets, and waterways.”

Single-use foodware items covered by the new requirements include:

• Utensils (knives, forks, spoons, chopsticks)
• Splash sticks and stirrers
• Straws (under county law, CB 52-2019, only compostable and paper straws are permitted)
• Condiment cups and packets
• Cup sleeves
• Napkins