Summary

The "Skip the Stuff" law, enacted in New York City in 2021, aims to reduce waste by limiting the provision of single-use items, such as plastic utensils, straws, and napkins, with takeout and delivery orders unless specifically requested by customers. This policy is considered effective in minimizing unnecessary waste and promoting environmental sustainability. By encouraging businesses and consumers to reconsider their consumption habits, the law helps reduce plastic pollution and supports the city's broader environmental goals.

Key Takeaways

• “Skip the Stuff” bill in NYC was signed into law by Mayor Eric Adams on February 1, 2023. This bill seeks to reduce the excessive use of single use plastics in carryout food
• Recycling is simply not good enough and does not cater to the over consumption of single-use plastic

Despite the ease and convenience of single-use plastic within everyday lives and in businesses globally, the use of single-use plastics has caused an immersive health and safety concern for people and the environment. Plastic consumption has quadrupled in the last 30 years (Global Plastics Outlook, 2022) and it is predicted to increase; it is estimated that in 2050 there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish by weight (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2016). With this growing population, it’s only a matter of time before the production, pollution and destruction of single-use plastic starts doing serious harm to not only our environment but to our bodies as well.

Microplastics can affect the various systems of your body, this includes the digestive system, the respiratory system, reproductive system and so on and so forth. For instance, experts from the Clearwater organization (2022) emphasize the significance of microplastics in the digestive systems as it is reported that if ingested too much, it would result in physical irritation to the gastrointestinal tract and may eventually cause inflammation, resulting in various gastrointestinal symptoms. Bernardo Lemos, an adjunct professor of environmental epigenetics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health affirms that “more data that suggest microplastics affect human biology” (2023). Research conducted by Philip Demokritou, director of the Environmental Health Nanoscience Laboratory at the Harvard Chan School and his team have further backed up claims regarding the harmful effects of microplastics in human health; “animal models indicate that microplastics can cause oxidative damage, DNA damage, and changes in gene activity, known risks for cancer development” (Dutchen, 2023) there are many researchers from multiple institutions such as clear water and Harvard Medical School, that support this argument. It is paramount for everyday New Yorkers to stay informed and updated on what goes in our bodies and how it affects us.

With this in mind, new ways of reducing single-use plastic production and consumerism must be introduced. For this reason, the “Skip the Stuff” bill in New York City was signed into law on February 1, 2023 by Mayor Eric Adams (Grove, 2023). The bill’s purpose is to eliminate excessive use of single plastics in NYC by reducing the amount of napkins, plastic utensils and condiments that are distributed in takeout food unless specifically requested to include those following items in the order according to the The New York City Council (2023). The Surfrider Foundation (2023) states that 98% of takeout and delivery orders are eaten in a space where reusable utensils are available. It is for this reason that the bill exists; much of the single-use plastic that comes with carryout food is already at one’s disposal. In addition to the positive and effective qualities of the bill, this bill not only protects the environment conservation and effectively promote less plastic waste, it also protects the rights of restaurants that participate in carryout service and that may distribute these items as well (The New York City Council, 2023) it is for this reason that the largest restaurant association in the city, the NYC Hospitality Alliance, supported the bill (Grove, 2023). It should also be noted that recycling is not necessarily the most effective way to reduce plastic waste, especially mass produced single-use plastics. 

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD, 2022) announces that only 9% of global plastic waste is actually recycled. Another 19% is reportedly incinerated which has negative effects on the environment by releasing toxic combinations of chemicals that contribute to air pollution and cause respiratory illness (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 2020). Furthermore, another 50% of plastic waste ends up in landfills while the remaining 22% evades waste management and ends up in uncontrolled dumpsites, is burned in open pits or ends up in terrestrial or aquatic environments, especially in poorer countries (OECD, 2022). This is very significant to the way New Yorkers are forced to deal with these issues as it is reported that 80% of plastic incinerators are located in low income areas and/or communities of color. This can have detrimental effects to busy neighborhoods as the pollutant fumes produced by incinerating plastic have toxic effects when inhaled that may cause respiratory problems at an early age or over time at any age. This costs everyday New Yorkers millions of dollars each year as the cost of waste management increases and medical costs. In 2019 New York spent $432 million dollars to export waste alone, not to mention the additional $370 million in that same year for the production of plastic. (Epstien et al., 2024) Several recyclables handling recovery facility (RHRF) have been surveyed in 2019-2020 regarding the time and effort it costs to clean up after single-use plastic waste; these RHRF’s reported a range of costs between $300,000 to $1 million (NEW YORK STATE PLASTIC BAG TASK FORCE REPORT: An Analysis of the Impact of Single-Use Plastic Bags Options for New York State Plastic Bag Legislation, n.d.). In addition to those costs, it also costs RHRF’s an additional $250,000-$300,000 each year for removing plastic from other recyclable materials (NEW YORK STATE PLASTIC BAG TASK FORCE REPORT: An Analysis of the Impact of Single-Use Plastic Bags Options for New York State Plastic Bag Legislation, n.d.). Plastic bags that arrive at a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) are often heavily soiled, and there are no viable markets for these dirty and contaminated bags. While MRFs do bale these contaminated bags, the associated costs of handling and disposing of the material add financial strain to MRFs, exacerbating challenges in a tough market. This situation complicates the recycling process.

With the “ Skip the stuff” bill, there would be a significantly less cost to handling and exporting single-use plastics while also reducing health strain to families that live in communities known for dumpsites and incinerators.  New Yorkers would be able to live in a healthier and economical city with reduced production of single-use plastics. Many corporations and restaurants that heavily depend on the production and distribution of single-use plastics will save millions by complying to the bill. “Skip the stuff” actively combats these environmental and future medical costs by targeting excessive plastic production, before it becomes an issue.