Your Delivery Order Is Changing In Union County, Here’s Why

UNION COUNTY, NJ — The next time you order takeout or delivery, your food may arrive with fewer extras than you’re used to.

Starting Aug. 1, New Jersey’s “Skip the Stuff” law will change how restaurants, cafés, food trucks and other food establishments provide single-use plastic utensils and condiments with takeout and delivery orders.

Under the new rules, customers will need to request items such as plastic forks, knives, spoons and condiment packets instead of receiving them automatically.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners is encouraging residents and local businesses to prepare for the change before the law takes effect.

The law applies to takeout, delivery orders and online ordering platforms across New Jersey. Online ordering systems will be required to default to “no utensils or condiments,” meaning customers will need to actively select those items if they want them.

For dine-in customers, restaurants with seating for 10 or more people will continue to provide reusable utensils. Self-serve dispensers with individual items, rather than bundled cutlery packs, will also still be allowed.

Union County Commissioner Chairman Joseph C. Bodek said residents can help make the transition easier by becoming familiar with the new requirements.

“We are once again taking a major step towards building a more sustainable future and reducing plastic consumption in our state,” Bodek said. “Whether it looks like keeping reusable utensils in purses or office drawers, or making sure to request them from food vendors when placing an order, it’s important that residents plan ahead for these changes to ensure a smoother dining experience going forward.”

The law is designed to reduce the amount of unused single-use plastic items entering the waste stream by requiring customers to request only the items they need.

Certain establishments are exempt from the new requirements, including K-12 schools, correctional facilities, healthcare facilities and some pre-packaged food items that include utensils or condiments as part of the product.

Businesses that do not comply with the law could receive a warning for a first violation, followed by fines for additional violations.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has also launched a “Cut the Cutlery” campaign to help businesses and customers understand the changes before the law takes effect.

Union County residents with questions about the new requirements can visit the county’s recycling website or contact the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.