Environmental Commission reviews ‘Skip the Stuff’ draft ordinance, asks members to socialize with businesses

The New Brunswick Environmental Commission discussed a draft “Skip the Stuff” ordinance at its March 25, 2025 meeting, asking commissioners to solicit feedback from local businesses and community groups before advancing the measure to City Council.

The ordinance, which the commission’s drafter said she borrowed from another municipality’s template, defines plastic broadly and would require restaurants and food-service outlets to provide disposable utensils and condiments only on request. “I don't propose to be cramming anything down, you know, people's throats. It won't work,” one member said as the group emphasized outreach and incentives for buy-in.

Why it matters: commissioners said business buy-in and a clear enforcement mechanism are essential before the city seeks formal adoption. Members raised several operational questions — how inspections would be handled, whether third-party delivery platforms can (and already do) offer “opt-out” selections for utensils, and whether the measure should be phased in.

Commissioners asked staff and volunteers to take several next steps rather than advancing a vote at this meeting. Glenn Candia agreed to contact City Market vendors to gauge receptivity; Erin (member) said she would follow up with the organization that provided the ordinance template (referred to in the draft as “Anjek/AmJak”) to clarify definitions such as whether some bioplastics would be treated differently; and members agreed to solicit input from Esperanza and other community groups before returning to the commission.

Members noted enforcement questions remain. “Part of the enforcement mechanism…relies on health inspectors,” a commissioner said, and pointed out New Brunswick currently uses county health inspectors rather than a local city health department. Commissioners instructed staff to investigate whether Middlesex County would accept responsibility for inspections or how enforcement would otherwise be structured.

Panelists also discussed recycling policy shorthand and timing: Middlesex County plans to accept #5 plastics beginning in 2026, which some commissioners said would change the local cost/feasibility calculus for certain to-go containers. Commissioners recommended a public education campaign be incorporated into any implementation timeline and suggested a voluntary or phased approach initially (for example, voluntary compliance for the first six months to a year before penalties).

The commission did not take a formal vote to send the ordinance to City Council. Instead it directed the listed outreach and deferred further action until community partners have reviewed the draft and reported back.

Ending: Commissioners said they will return the draft to the commission after targeted outreach and additional work on enforcement logistics, with an eye toward balancing business concerns, county-level inspection capacity, and public education.