New Jersey bill would largely ban single-use utensils, condiments

The New Jersey Senate Environment and Energy Committee advanced legislation prohibiting food service businesses from providing single-use utensils and condiments except at the customer’s request.

While food service businesses could still stock single-use utensils for use upon request, providing unrequested single-use utensils would incur a fine. The money collected would go to the “Clean Communities Program Fund” to finance litter pickup, removal, education and enforcement programs at the state and local levels.

The bill, S-3195, sponsored by state Sens. Bob Smith, D-Middlesex/Somerset, and Raj Mukherji, D-Hudson, would also require food service businesses with on-site seating to provide customers with easy-to-access reusable — and washable — utensils.

The committee voted 3-2 to advance the measure.