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Community Initiative with Clean Water Action
“Skip the Stuff” When Getting Take-Out
“Skip the Stuff” When Getting Take-Out
It is estimated that 40 billion individual single-use plastic utensils are discarded every year in the United States. Clean Water Action's ReThink Disposable program is working to stop plastic trash advocating for a "Skip the Stuff" bill in New Jersey! Restaurants should only give out single-use plastic cutlery and condiment containers if requested by customers. Together, we will reduce litter, plastics pollution and related health impacts while saving small businesses money by skipping the stuff in take-out food orders, as seen in work by ReThink Disposable.
The Borough of Red Bank Environmental Commission in partnership support of Clean Water Action's ReThink Disposable initiative aims to become the second New Jersey municipality to team up with the the "Skip the Stuff" project.
The program has been successful, despite its quiet launch during the covid pandemic. In 2022, residents put 4,300 pounds of plastic film curbside for recycling under the program. That’s 4,300 pounds that didn’t go into landfills.
Borough of Red Bank Skip the Stuff Case Study
1,578,769 pieces of toxic plastic cutlery (over 10,000 lbs) annually reduced from the waste stream as a result of 16 compliant restaurants in Red Bank
94% reduction in single-use cutlery and condiments for all businesses following Skip the Stuff, equating to money saved
"Skip the Stuff" - Next Level
"Skip the Stuff" - Next Level
It is estimated that 40 billion individual single-use plastic utensils are discarded every year in the United States.¹ Plastic never decomposes but instead gets smaller and smaller as it breaks into microplastics.
Plastic has recently been found making its way to our bloodstream and then into breast milk and the heart.² 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 other negative consequences for our reproductive system.³
Over 100 million plastic utensils are discarded everyday across the United States and it is increasing every year.⁴ Much of this is 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.⁵
The World Economic Forum estimated that in 2019 the production and incineration of plastic was equivalent to 189 coal-fired power plants. By 2050, it will rise to the equivalent of 615 coal plants’ worth and will account for 20% of all oil consumption.⁶
Plastic cutlery is too small to be recycled as it can jam recycling machinery. It is also too lightweight and too contaminated by food to be recycled.⁷
Some single-use plastic cutlery will have their end of life in landfills or incinerators, furthering the negative health effects for those who live near the disposal sites.⁸ The rest is littered in our streets and waterways
For more information about Clean Water Action’s Zero Waste initiatives, go to Clean Water Action
Skip the Stuff News Stories
Fact Check - Show me the FactS? (references)
Fact Check - Show me the FactS? (references)
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