Saving Restaurants Money, Customers Clutter and Reducing Pollution
Jersey City, NJ – Jersey City Council recently and unanimously passed municipal ordinance 24-068, commonly known as Skip the Stuff. Now, restaurants will only provide cutlery and condiments upon request, limiting unnecessary cost for their local restaurants all while reducing clutter for customers and preventing pollution and toxics.
“As Jersey City continues to lead in sustainability efforts, the passing of the 'Skip the Stuff' ordinance is a significant step forward in reducing unnecessary plastic waste. This initiative not only helps us protect our environment but also empowers our residents and businesses to make more conscious choices. By minimizing the use of single-use plastic utensils and condiments, we are not only cutting down on waste but also setting an example for other communities to follow. I am proud of this collective effort to make Jersey City greener, cleaner, and more responsible for the generations to come,” says Jersey City Council President Watterman.
“Half of all plastic created is for single-use. Of that, more than half the weight of the entire human population is discarded each year in the form of plastic utensils, never used. Plastic never biodegrades but breaks down into small micro and nanoplastics. These particles are so small they float in the air we breathe, waters we drink and fish, and land we grow our vegetables and play in. Toxics leach from these plastics and can harm our health, causing cancers, fertility and endocrine issues, asthma, diabetes and negatively affect our mental health. Thank you, Jersey City for continuing to be a leader in helping the Garden State reduce the use of plastics,” says Marta Young, Zero Waste Specialist, Clean Water Action.
Under Clean Water Action’s leadership and guidance, over a dozen municipalities in New Jersey have similar Skip the Stuff ordinances. Clean Water Action is also leading efforts to pass strong state legislation - Senate Bill 3195 sponsored by Senator Bob Smith. Until we have a NJ law, towns are going to continue to demonstrate their support for Skip the Stuff by passing municipal ordinances. This Skip the Stuff initiative is part of a larger Clean Water Action ReThink Disposable campaign.
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Since our founding during the campaign to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972, Clean Water Action has worked to win strong health and environmental protections by bringing issue expertise, solution-oriented thinking and people power to the table. www.cleanwater.org