Skip the Stuff in New Jersey

The Problem

• It is estimated that 40 billion individual single-use plastic utensils are discarded every year in the United States. Plastic never decomposes but instead gets smaller and smaller as it breaks into micro and nanoplastics.
• Micro and nanoplastics have been found throughout the world, even in the most remote places like Mount Everest and the Arctic.  
• Plastic is made from 16000 different types of chemicals which can leach from products and migrate into our bodies through the air we breathe and food and water we consume. Toxics from plastic have recently been found making their way into our bloodstream, breast milk and fetus, and throughout our bodies.  
• According to the National Institute of Health, manufacturing,  transportation, use and decomposition of plastic is harmful to our health. It has been linked to numerous cancers, insulin resistance, decreased sex hormones and birth defects, neurological and mental health issues, asthma and other endocrine disruptors. 
• Most  utensils are unused and an unnecessary cost burden to restaurants. Since 2014, online food ordering has increased 300% faster than dine-in, furthering the plastic pollution problem.

The Solution

• Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund’s ReThink Disposable program is working to stop trash before it begins by leading the Skip the Stuff local and state campaign.  
• Restaurants should only provide single-use cutlery and condiments for take-out orders if requested by customers and only reusable foodware should be provided for dine-in, saving restaurants by not purchasing unnecessary items and reducing clutter for customers and waste and toxics for the environment.
• In 2024, Clean Water Action led Skip the Stuff at the municipal level, resulting in 10 NJ towns passing municipal ordinances and 1 with a resolution. Six towns wove it into their 2019/2020 Bag Ban so by the end of 2024 there were 17 New Jersey municipal Skip the Stuff regulations.
• Clean Water Action has led at the state level to get S3195 and A5157 introduced in 2024 with strong sponsors. Now, New Jersey needs to pass a “Skip the Stuff” bill so we can continue to be an environmental leader.
• Urge your town to pass a “Skip the Stuff” ordinance while awaiting state legislation– learn more here.

Together, we will reduce litter, plastics pollution and related health impacts while saving small businesses money by skipping the stuff, as seen in work by ReThink Disposable.