New Jersey Enforces Statewide Ban on Single‑Use Plastic Utensils

Effective August 1, New Jersey law requires restaurants and food‑delivery apps to stop automatically providing single‑use plastic utensils, napkins and condiment packets. Customers must now request these items each time. Restaurants that seat ten or more diners must supply real silverware for in‑house meals.

The statewide rule expands earlier local ordinances, such as Hoboken’s “Skip the Stuff” policy and Cranford’s ban on voluntarily offering single‑use plastics. It also follows similar measures adopted by shore towns including Avalon, Belmar, Longport and Jersey City, which have prohibited carry‑out plastic bags, straws and Styrofoam containers.

Delivery platforms have been reconfigured to default to “no utensils” unless a user changes the setting, aligning the entire state’s food service sector with the new environmental standards.