New Jersey's 'Skip the Stuff' law bans automatic plastic cutlery

New Jersey’s “Skip the Stuff” law takes effect on August 1, prohibiting restaurants, food trucks, cafeterias and other food‑service businesses from automatically providing single‑use plastic utensils, napkins or condiments with takeout orders. Customers must request these items, and mobile‑order platforms will leave the corresponding boxes unchecked.

Full‑service dine‑in establishments with ten or more seats must offer reusable utensils, while self‑serve dispensers may continue to provide individual items. The law excludes public and private schools, correctional and health‑care facilities, food‑court vendors and pre‑packaged foods that already include utensils or sauce cups. Violations trigger a warning, followed by a $100 fine for a second offense and $250 for each subsequent offense within 12 months. Commissioner Chairman Joseph Bodek said the measure is “a major step towards building a more sustainable future and reducing plastic consumption in our state.”