New York City Council Votes to Restrict Use of Plastic Straws and Reduce School Food Waste

 

With plastic waste wreaking havoc on our planet, the New York City Council is further proving its commitment to reducing plastic waste in our City landfills. Members will vote on a bill to prohibit food service establishments from providing single-use plastic straws, stirrers and splash sticks to customers who don’t ask for them. Plastic straws, which people with disabilities often need, would still be available to those who ask. By making customers pro-actively ask for straws, we will dramatically reduce the amount of single use plastic being used in the largest city in the country. Each year, at least eight million tons of plastic leak into the ocean. If we don’t change our behavior, the World Economic Forum predicts there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050.

The Council will also vote on a bill to create food waste prevention programs in our public schools. The bill would require the Chancellor of the Department of Education (DOE) to work with school sustainability coordinators to craft food waste production plans, consistent with a bill the Council recently passed to require that all city agencies with food procurement contracts develop and implement plans to do the same.

CONSUMER AFFAIRS

Reduces single-use plastic straws, stirrers and splash sticks

Int. No. 936-A, sponsored by Council Member Helen Rosenthal, will reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in our city’s landfill. Each year more than 320 million tons of plastic are consumed worldwide. Plastic in landfills can take centuries to break down and finds its way into our oceans each year at an estimated rate of one garbage truck full per minute, endangering fish and aquatic wildlife. This bill would restrict food service establishments in the City from providing plastic straws, stirrers and splash sticks, all of which typically go to landfill and are not effectively recycled.

Providing single-use plastic stirrers and splash sticks of any kind would be prohibited. Providing plastic straws would also be prohibited. However, to balance the environmental benefits of reducing plastic with the needs of people with disabilities who use plastic straws to consume food and beverages, the bill requires that all food service establishments maintain a sufficient stock of plastic straws to provide free of charge, upon request.  To further accommodate those who use plastic straws based on medical need, signs will be posted in self-service stations where customers typically retrieve their own utensils, informing the public that they may request a plastic straw. 

Providing single-use plastics in violation of this bill would result in civil penalties, while refusing to provide a plastic straw upon request could constitute a violation of the City’s Human Rights Law.

The bill would permit distribution of compostable plastic straws for use on-premises, but only if the food service establishment properly separates and disposes of those straws through a commercial composting provider.

“Plastic waste is gravely polluting our oceans and waterways, threatening the health of wildlife and humans alike. This includes millions upon millions of straws, and limiting their use is a simple but very important step. At the same time, it is absolutely fundamental that we protect the civil rights and independence of our disability community. The ability to request a plastic straw is a critical protection for disabled customers who need them to eat and/or drink. Our disability community worked closely with environmentalists, the restaurant industry, and the City Council to ensure that the legislation being voted on today protects the rights of all New Yorkers,” said Council Member Helen Rosenthal.

This bill would go into effect on November 1, 2021.

EDUCATION

Requires the Department of Education to develop a plan for reducing food waste

Int 1681-A, sponsored by Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer would require the Chancellor of the Department of Education (DOE) to work with school sustainability coordinators to develop a plan for reducing food waste. This plan would be submitted to the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) for recommendations, as well as the Speaker of the Council. The bill would require DOE to submit an annual report with information on DOE’s actions to implement its food waste prevention plan and the Chancellor’s updates to such plan. DSNY shall include the information contained in the report as part of the department’s March 1, 2022 annual recycling report.

“The Department of Education must confront food waste in order to create a more environmentally sustainable City,” said Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer. “Food waste prevention plans will help cut the amount of excess food our schools and city sends to land fill, finding ways to instead donate, compost, and reduce surplus. These plans are a step towards more sustainable schools system and a less wasteful New York.”

This bill goes into effect 90 days after it becomes law.