Restaurants & Bars

Shaking Up NYC Fast Food: New Bill Targets Throwaway Containers

A "Choose To Reuse" bill by the City Council could require fast casual restaurants like Shake Shack to offer reusable food packaging.

Shake Shack paper bags hang at a restaurant on April 20, 2020, in New York City.
Shake Shack paper bags hang at a restaurant on April 20, 2020, in New York City. (Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)

NEW YORK CITY — New Yorkers' Shake Shack orders soon could come with a side order of reusable containers.

Lawmakers Tuesday will introduce a new "Choose To Reuse" bill that would mandate fast casual eateries offer throwaway cutlery and containers only upon request.

Fast-casual joints such as Shake Shack, Chipotle and Dig would also be required to establish a return system for reusable food packaging or face fines.

Find out what's happening in New York Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

City Council members Marjorie Velázquez, Keith Powers, Erik Bottcher and Sandy Nurse sponsored the bill, and have support of Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, City Council records show.

Supporters will rally noon Tuesday outside a Financial District Shake Shack to highlight the bill, which they call "the most significant legislation on reusable packing in the United States."

Find out what's happening in New York Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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