So Long, Packet Drawer: NYC Bans Unasked-For Plastics In Food Orders

NEW YORK CITY — Unasked-for plastic cutlery and condiment packets no longer will clutter New York City's landfills and packet drawers.

Or, at least that's the hope of a new "Skip the Stuff" bill signed into law Wednesday by Mayor Eric Adams.

The law bars restaurants and food delivery platforms from putting utensils, extra containers, condiment packets and napkins in takeout and delivery orders unless the customers ask for them.

"We love to order out and take out, but we are getting overburdened with the amount of plastic utensils that come with it," Adams said.

The 86-ing of single use plastics from food orders without request is similar to the city's plastic bag ban.

Both are designed to reduce waste and help clean up the city.

But, as many New Yorkers can attest, plastic bags are still freely distributed by some businesses nearly two years after the ban took effect.

Still, Eric Goldstein, director at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said the "skip the stuff" law will help cut down on the 20,000 tons a year of unused, unwanted plastic food ware that's discarded in the city.

"A lot of it ends up as litter on our streets, in our parks, in our waterways," he said during the bill signing.

"And of course, millions of New Yorkers have a kitchen drawer filled, as you've indicated, with these plastic spoons, knives, forks, ketchup and mustard packets and all of that stuff, they feel a little guilty about throwing it out and making more waste."