Montclair Passes "Skip the Stuff" Ordinance
Published on December 18, 2024
Montclair Passes "Skip the Stuff" Ordinance
Single-use disposable items will only be available upon request for meal take-out and delivery starting March 1.
Montclair, NJ, December 18, 2024 - Montclair is joining towns and cities across the country in a nationwide program called “Skip the Stuff”. On Tuesday, December 17th, Montclair’s Council voted unanimously in favor of an ordinance that will reduce unnecessary waste from restaurant take-out and delivery orders.
Mayor Baskerville shares, “As a council member, in 2019, I led the way in helping us to pass an ordinance prohibiting single use plastic bags. Today I am happy to serve as your mayor, and continue our efforts to become a more environmentally friendly and sustainable township. We will not stop here. Montclair must lead the way in these ongoing efforts.”
Effective March 1, 2025 food service providers in town are prohibited from including single-use “stuff” in takeout and delivery orders. These items include plastic and non-plastic forks, knives, spoons, stirrers, napkins, straws, and condiment packages. Instead, customers will have to specifically request these items.
This policy applies to in-person take-out orders, as well as phone and online order systems where customers will have to opt-in if they want single-use items included in their delivery.
Councilor Eileen Birmingham notes, “This is a simple, effective solution that will reduce the distribution of unnecessary disposable items that wind up in that “drawer” that many of us have–the one full of unneeded condiment packets, chopsticks, stirrers, bundled packages, and a LOT of plastic utensils that eventually wind up in our waste stream.”
These single-use items are not recyclable, and according to Clean Water Action it is estimated that 40 billion individual single-use plastic utensils are discarded every year in the United States. Laid end to end, they could wrap around the globe 139 times.
“I would like to thank Montclair restaurant owners and other food service providers that have already begun the practices mandated by this ordinance and those that have expressed enthusiasm for this initiative” shares Deputy Mayor Susan Shin-Andersen. “I am grateful for their partnership in taking action on waste reduction. In addition, single-use items, including plastic utensils, are also an unnecessary cost burden to these businesses since many of these items are unused, unless specifically requested.”
The ordinance furthers Montclair’s sustainability efforts. “In the past two years, we have received several grants to support our sustainability initiatives in town” explains Montclair Sustainability Coordinator Lisa Johnson. “Reducing waste through Skip the Stuff is a great way to address the harmful effects of plastic pollution and overuse of single-use items.”
Montclair took a step in this direction in 2019 when it passed an ordinance prohibiting the distribution of single-use plastic bags in stores greater than 20,000 square feet. Subsequently in May 2022, state-wide legislation passed restricting single-use plastic bags (and paper bags in grocery stores) and plastic straws would only be allowed upon request. To date, this policy has prevented billions of single-use plastic bags from entering the waste stream.
“I thank our Township Council for their leadership and for collaborating with us on this ordinance. As well as Amy Monaco, Health Department Director and her team, as well as Daniel White, Economic Development Coordinator for the Township. I’d also like to recognize residents Erin Bullen and Judy Meyers, who brought this great idea to our town” shared Suzanne Aptman, Montclair Environmental Commission Chair. “Skip the Stuff is an opportunity to deepen residents’ awareness of the impacts of their everyday choices on our environment. It is an expansion of the successful bag ban and another step in decreasing Montclair’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.”
This policy is not new to restaurants, as many have already been prompted to break the habit by food delivery apps, which can require that customers opt-in for utensils and napkins. Several Montclair restaurants have already made the shift and others distribute less single-use items. Sharon Egan, owner of Egans and Sons Restaurant explains “We don’t give any single-use items with our takeout. It saves us money and customers never complain”.
Montclair Center Bid Interim Executive Director Abhishake Shah explained “The “Skip the Stuff” ordinance aims to lower overhead costs for our businesses, while simultaneously cutting down on litter and waste in Montclair Center. We are committed to collaborating with local businesses to ensure they meet the requirements of this new law. By joining forces, we can tackle plastic waste in our community and enhance our environmental footprint.”
Look for “Skip the Stuff” decals and education popping up in the windows and countertops of restaurants later this winter and thank them for taking action on waste reduction. Aptman adds “No need to wait for March 1st, though! Residents can immediately ask restaurants to skip the single-use items in their take-out orders and help to kick off a cleaner new year”.