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Bill

A 3746

Prohibits food service businesses from providing single-use utensils and condiments to customers, except upon request, and requires certain food service businesses to provide reusable, washable utensils to customers eating on site.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Clinton Calabrese and 5 co-sponsors

New Jersey bill requires food businesses to provide single-use utensils only upon request and use reusable utensils for dine-in customers, reducing plastic waste.

Withdrawn Because Approved P.L.2025, c.298.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 3746

Legislative bill overview

Bill A 3746 would require food service businesses in New Jersey to stop automatically providing single-use utensils and condiments, instead offering them only upon customer request. For customers dining on-site, businesses would be required to provide reusable, washable utensils instead of disposable ones.

Why is this important

This bill addresses plastic waste reduction, a growing environmental concern as single-use items constitute a significant portion of landfill and ocean pollution. The policy would shift responsibility for waste generation from automatic provision to customer choice while creating operational requirements for food service establishments.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs: Food service businesses, particularly small operators, would face expenses for purchasing, maintaining, and sanitizing reusable utensil systems
  • Enforcement burden: Determining which businesses qualify and monitoring compliance could require regulatory resources and create ambiguity about what constitutes a "food service business"
  • Customer convenience vs. environmental goals: Some customers may find the opt-in system inconvenient, while others may view mandatory reusables as an unfunded mandate on businesses

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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