Plastic utensils are in the crosshairs of environmental advocates, who are pushing a bill to ban disposable cutlery and condiment packets, the kind that hold ketchup and mayo, at restaurants in New Jersey. They’d like to see the single-use items go the way of the plastic bag. Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D-Burlington) is sponsoring the bill that would prohibit restaurants from giving out the plastics, unless a customer asks for them.
The bill would also require some businesses to use reusable, washable utensils instead and urge all the food establishments to find eco-friendly alternatives. Violations would include a $1,000 fine for the first offense and up to $5,000 for the third offense. The money would go to the Clean Communities Fund, which promotes litter pickup, removal and enforcement.
