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Skip the Stuff Toolkit

A Practical Guide to Reducing Waste, Saving Money, and Protecting Public Health

Skip the Stuff is a win win graphic

This toolkit is designed to help advocates, policymakers, and community members build public awareness and pass strong Skip the Stuff policies at the local and state level.

Skip the Stuff policies reduce waste and toxic exposure from unnecessary single-use plastics while saving money for restaurants and municipalities by:

  • Prohibiting food service businesses from providing single-use utensils and condiment packets automatically, except when requested by the customer.

  • Requiring certain food service businesses to provide reusable, washable utensils for customers eating on site.

     

States/Regions
Related Campaigns
Zero Waste for New Jersey
ReThink Disposable in New Jersey
ReThink Disposable
Related Priorities

What Is Skip the Stuff?

“Skip the Stuff” is a commonsense waste-reduction policy that stops the automatic distribution of single-use plastic items, like forks, spoons, napkins, and condiment packets, that customers often don’t want or need.

Instead of default giveaways:

  • Customers ask for what they need
  • Businesses save money
  • Communities reduce plastic pollution at the source

Skip the Stuff focuses on prevention, not cleanup, cutting waste before it becomes litter, landfill material, or pollution in waterways.

Learn more about Skip the Stuff in New Jersey.

Why Skip the Stuff Matters

Single-use plastics are:

  • Rarely recyclable
  • A major source of litter and microplastics
  • Linked to toxic chemical exposure
  • Costly for businesses and local governments

Skip the Stuff policies address all of these issues with one simple behavior shift: only provide disposable items when they’re actually wanted.

Key Talking Points: Proven Success

Skip the Stuff works - and the evidence is already there.

  • New Jersey had over 60 municipal Skip the Stuff policies before passing the strongest state law in the country, effective August 1, 2026. NJ’s law applies to both take-out and dine-in service.
  • California and Washington State passed Skip the Stuff legislation for take-out in 2022.
  • Major cities with local policies include: Washington, DC (2020), Chicago (2022), Denver (2022), New York City (2023)

Dozens of additional cities and towns across the country have adopted similar policies, proving broad public and business support.

Key Talking Points - Purpose & Benefits

Economic Benefits

  • Saves restaurants money by reducing unnecessary giveaways
  • Lowers purchasing, storage, and disposal costs
  • Reduces municipal spending on litter cleanup and waste management

Environmental Benefits

  • Cuts plastic litter on streets and in waterways
  • Prevents debris from clogging storm drains and worsening flooding
  • Reduces waste sent to already overburdened landfills and incinerators

Public Health Benefits

  • Limits exposure to toxic chemicals found in plastic foodware
  • Reduces microplastics entering food, water, and ecosystems

Everyday Quality-of-Life Benefits

  • Less “junk drawer clutter” at home
  • Customers still get what they need—just without the waste

Get Involved & Spread the Word

Skip the Stuff works when communities take action.

  • Residents: Ask only for what you need. Encourage local businesses to do their part in reducing single-use plastics.
  • Businesses: Provide single-use items only upon request.
  • Local Leaders: Use model policies to bring Skip the Stuff to your town.

Use the Social Media Toolkit Below!

Interested in passing Skip the Stuff in your community or state? We've included ready-to-use graphics, captions, and facts in the toolkit below. Customize for your town or organization, tag local leaders and businesses, and use hashtags like #SkipTheStuff and #ReThinkDisposable.

Every post helps move prevention forward!

Questions? 

Contact Clean Water Action’s New Jersey Zero Waste Specialist Marta Young for support and guidance.

Key Resources & Links

Social Media Toolkit

Spread the word about Skip the Stuff in your community or state! Use these graphics (download here) and sample posts below and share on your social media platforms. If you'd like these co-branded with your logo, please email myoung@cleanwater.org for permission before you post. We recommend using the vertical graphics for Instagram and horizontal graphics for all other social media platforms.

Tags: 

Hashtags: 

#SkipTheStuff #CleanWaterAction #ReThinkDisposable #ZeroWaste #TheFutureIsReusable 

NJ is a Skip the Stuff leader


NJ Towns Prove It: Skip the Stuff Works!

Download vertical graphic here. Download horizontal graphic here.

Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn Post: New Jersey towns are proving it: Skip the Stuff works! By only providing plastic cutlery and condiments when requested, communities are:
✔ Cutting trash
✔ Saving businesses money
✔ Protecting clean water

Over 60 NJ towns have already adopted Skip the Stuff policies -- and now New Jersey has the strongest statewide legislation in the country!

Let’s keep the momentum going.

✔ Support plastic reduction policies in your community:
www.cleanwater.org/skip

Bluesky/X Post: NJ towns are proving it: #SkipTheStuff works. Providing utensils & condiments only when requested:
✔ Cuts trash
✔ Saves businesses money
✔ Protects clean water

Over 60 NJ towns have adopted it, and now NJ leads the nation.

Take action: www.cleanwater.org/skip

NJ Leads the Nation for Skip the Stuff


New Jersey Leads the Nation for Skip the Stuff

Download vertical graphic here. Download horizontal graphic here.

Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn Post: Did you know New Jersey has over 60 local Skip the Stuff policies - and now the strongest state law in the country?

Providing utensils and condiments only when requested:
• Saves businesses money
• Reduces plastic waste
• Keeps streets and waterways cleaner
• Protects public health

This simple shift makes a big difference.

✔ Take action! Urge your legislators to support and strengthen Skip the Stuff policies statewide: www.cleanwater.org/skip

X/Bluesky Post: Did you know NJ has 60+ local Skip the Stuff policies?

Less unnecessary plastic = cleaner streets & waterways + savings for businesses.

Support smart plastic reduction:
www.cleanwater.org/skip

Skip the Stuff - What's In Your Junk Drawer?


What's In Your Junk Drawer?

Download vertical graphic here. Download horizontal graphic here.

Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn Post: Be honest: how many unused forks and soy sauce packets are sitting in your junk drawer right now?

Those extras add up fast, and most of them never get used.

Skip the Stuff means restaurants only provide plastic utensils and condiments when requested. That means:
✔ Less clutter at home
✔ Less unnecessary plastic
✔ Less waste in our streets and waterways

Small change. Big impact.

✔ Support plastic reduction policies in your community:
www.cleanwater.org/skip

X/Bluesky Post: Be honest: how many unused forks & soy sauce packets are in your junk drawer right now?

Skip the Stuff = utensils & condiments only by request.

Less clutter at home. Less waste everywhere.

Take action: www.cleanwater.org/skip
 

Skip the Stuff is a win win graphic

 

Skip the Stuff is a Win-Win

Download vertical graphic here. Download horizontal graphic here.

Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn Post: Skip the Stuff is a win-win! 🙌

✔ Saves restaurants money
✔ Reduces trash
✔ Customers still get what they need, when they ask

By simply providing utensils, napkins, and condiments upon request, restaurants can cut waste and costs while still delivering great service. Small change. Big impact. 💧

Learn more and join the movement: cleanwater.org/skip

X/Bluesky Post: Skip the Stuff is a win-win.

✔ Saves restaurants money
✔ Reduces trash
✔ Customers still get what they need, when they ask

Less waste. Lower costs. Same great service. 💧

Learn more: cleanwater.org/skip

Skip the Stuff Saves Money


Skip the Stuff Saves Money

Download vertical graphic here. Download horizontal graphic here.

Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn Post: Landfills are overflowing. Incinerators are burning. And restaurants are paying the price.

Most single-use cutlery and condiments are never even used, costing U.S. businesses over $200 million every year.

Skip the Stuff saves money and reduces waste with one simple shift: provide extras only when customers ask.

A simple choice. A big impact. 💧
Learn more: cleanwater.org/skip

X/Bluesky Post: Landfills are overflowing. Incinerators are burning. Most single-use cutlery & condiments are never used, costing U.S. businesses $200M+ each year.

Skip the Stuff saves money and reduces waste.
A simple choice. A big impact.

cleanwater.org/skip

Skip the Stuff Eliminates Litter


Skip the Stuff Eliminates Litter

Download vertical graphic here. Download horizontal graphic here.

Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn Post: Over 70% of street litter comes from food and beverage packaging.

When single-use utensils and condiments are tossed aside, they clog storm drains, pollute waterways, and contribute to flooded streets and homes.

Skip the Stuff is a simple solution that reduces litter at the source, by providing extras only when customers ask.

Less waste = cleaner communities. 💧

Learn more and take action: cleanwater.org/skip

Bluesky/X Post: Over 70% of street litter comes from food & beverage items.

That waste clogs storm drains and contributes to flooding.

Skip the Stuff reduces litter at the source.
Less waste = cleaner communities.

cleanwater.org/skip

Skip the Stuff Helps Our Health


Skip the Stuff Helps Our Health

Download vertical graphic here. Download horizontal graphic here.

Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn Post: Plastic pollution isn’t just an environmental problem, it’s a health issue.

Over 99% of plastic is made from petrochemicals. And plastic pollution is entering our water, our food, and our bodies.

Skip the Stuff reduces unnecessary single-use plastics by providing utensils and condiments only when requested.

Less plastic. Healthier communities. 💧

Learn more and take action: cleanwater.org/skip

Bluesky/X Post: Plastic pollution is entering our water, food, and bodies.

Over 99% of plastic is made from petrochemicals.

Skip the Stuff reduces unnecessary single-use plastics.
Less plastic = healthier communities.

cleanwater.org/skip

Skip the Stuff is Smart Policy


Skip the Stuff is Smart Policy

Download vertical graphic here. Download horizontal graphic here.

Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn Post: Smart policy. Cleaner state.

Skip the Stuff is a commonsense solution that reduces waste, cuts costs for businesses, and protects our communities from plastic pollution.

Tell your legislators to vote YES on Skip the Stuff and support a cleaner, healthier future for all. 💧

Take action today.

Bluesky/X post: Smart policy. Cleaner state.

Skip the Stuff reduces waste and protects our communities.

Tell your legislators to vote YES.

Be the Next Leader - Pass Skip the Stuff


Be the Next Leader with Skip the Stuff Policy

Download vertical graphic here. Download horizontal graphic here.

Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn Post: New Jersey is leading the nation with the strongest “Skip the Stuff” policy, giving people a choice, saving money, and cutting down on single-use plastic. 🌎♻️

It’s simple: only provide disposable utensils, straws, and condiments when customers ask. Less waste. Less pollution. More savings.

Let’s bring this common-sense solution to our state next.

Learn more: cleanwater.org/skip

Bluesky/X Post: New Jersey is leading with the strongest #SkipTheStuff policy in the nation, saving money & reducing single-use plastic. 🌎♻️

It’s time our state steps up too.

Learn more: cleanwater.org/skip

Pass Skip the Stuff


Be the Next Leader! Pass Skip the Stuff.

Download vertical graphic here. Download horizontal graphic here.

Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn Post: California. Washington. New Jersey.

States across the country are passing “Skip the Stuff” laws to cut unnecessary plastic waste and save businesses money.

If they can do it, we can too. Let’s not get left behind, let’s lead.

Join the movement: cleanwater.org/skip

Bluesky/X Post:

California ✅
Washington ✅
New Jersey ✅

States are passing #SkipTheStuff laws to reduce plastic waste & save money.

Don’t let our state fall behind.
cleanwater.org/skip

dominoes


Momentum is Building!

Download vertical graphic here. Download horizontal graphic here.

Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn Post: Momentum is building. 💥

Across the country, states are adopting “Skip the Stuff” policies, cutting down on unnecessary plastic utensils, straws, and packets that often go straight to the trash.

It’s a simple change with a big impact. Let’s keep the dominoes falling.

Learn more: cleanwater.org/skip

Bluesky/X Post: Momentum is building.

State after state is passing #SkipTheStuff, reducing plastic waste one simple policy at a time. ♻️

Let’s keep the dominoes falling.
cleanwater.org/skip

For More Information, please contact Clean Water Action Zero Waste Specialist Marta Young.

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