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Lawmakers hear divided testimony on draft 'Skip the Stuff' ordinance to curb single-use utensils and packets
Summary
Environmental groups urged the Legislature to require utensils and condiment packets be provided only on request; business and small-business advocates warned of enforcement burdens and downstream costs. Chair recessed the item for more stakeholder discussion.
A proposal that would make single-use utensils and condiment packets available only when specifically requested generated a partisan hearing and was recessed for further work.
Supporters from Surfrider Foundation, Citizens Campaign for the Environment and other local volunteer groups presented data on plastic contamination and public-health risks, and urged the Legislature to adopt the measure. "Skip the Stuff is an easy, straightforward common sense solution to the plastic crisis," said Jordan Christensen of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, citing beach-cleanup litter tallies and the high cost of managing unrecyclable packaging.
Opponents, including Save Long Island, said the local ordinance would create enforcement headaches and harm small restaurants still recovering from pandemic-era losses. "Requiring explicit customer request for single-use items is a logistical nightmare," Angelo Veltri told the committee, saying the burden would fall on frontline staff.
Environmental advocates noted examples of similar rules in other jurisdictions and argued the change reduces waste without banning choice: customers would still be able to request utensils or condiments. The sponsor recessed the hearing to allow further consultation with business groups and health-enforcement partners.
Provenance: Public hearing and testimony on Intro. 1371, Skip the Stuff, May 7, 2024 (SEG 2230-2313). Supporter characterization: "Skip the Stuff is an easy, straightforward common sense solution" (J. Christensen, SEG 2302). Opposition characterization: "Requiring explicit customer request ... is a logistical nightmare" (A. Veltri, SEG 2236).
