Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Environment Single Use Plastics topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council adopts ordinance requiring single-use utensils only on request
Summary
The Livingston Township Council adopted Ordinance 29-2025, which prohibits businesses from automatically including single-use food and beverage accessories unless requested by customers. Council members credited high school student advocates and said the measure reduces plastic waste and can save businesses money.
The Livingston Township Council voted unanimously on June 23 to adopt Ordinance 29-2025, a measure that prohibits restaurants and food providers from automatically providing single-use food and beverage accessories — such as disposable cutlery and napkins — unless a customer requests them.
Council members said the ordinance grew out of advocacy by local high school students and environmental advocates. The council framed the policy as a simple change for residents and businesses that reduces single-use plastic: utensils and similar items will remain available, but only if asked for at the point of order.
Council members said businesses save money by not packaging unnecessary accessories and that the ordinance mirrors a broader "skip the stuff" approach some municipalities have adopted. The council also noted that the idea originated with a student advocate, identified in the meeting as Sophia Calderon.
The ordinance passed by roll-call vote with the following recorded: Council member Anthony — yes; Pepani — yes; Vieira — yes; Deputy Mayor Klein — yes; Mayor Ed Minhart — yes. The vote record and ordinance text were read into the minutes during the meeting.
The council did not attach a local implementation timeline during the meeting; enforcement and any compliance guidance for businesses were not specified in the public discussion and are not included in the ordinance text read at the session. Next procedural steps will be publication of the adopted ordinance and any municipal communications to businesses and the public about compliance.
The council scheduled no further hearings on this item at the meeting; the ordinance took effect per the local adoption process described in the published ordinance language.
