City of New Brunswick, NJ
07/31/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/31/2026 18:34
New State Takeout Law Goes Into Effect Saturday
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ (July 31, 2026) - When ordering takeout you might soon notice fewer plastic forks and ketchup packets in the bags unless you specifically ask for them.
Under a new state law taking effect Aug. 1, restaurants, cafés, and food trucks across the state will no longer automatically include single-use plastic utensils, extra napkins, or condiment packets with food orders.
The measure, dubbed the "Cut the Cutlery" law, shifts takeout accessories to an opt-in system across all ordering platforms:
- Online and App Orders: Delivery and takeout apps will feature check boxes at checkout, requiring customers to manually select utensils, napkins, or sauce packets if needed.
- In-Person and Phone Orders: Customers ordering at the counter or over the phone must verbally request disposable accessories.
- Dine-In Establishments: Restaurants with seating for 10 or more guests are required to serve dine-in customers using reusable cutlery.
The legislation was introduced to target single-use plastics that frequently end up in landfills or go unused in home kitchen drawers. The hope is that the policy shift will significantly reduce plastic waste across the state while helping local restaurant owners lower operating costs.
City of New Brunswick, NJ published this content on July 31, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on August 01, 2026 at 00:34 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]