A new ordinance approved by the City Council prohibits restaurants from automatically including plastic utensils with takeout orders, however customers can request these items when they order or pick up their food.
The Council considered the Skip the Stuff ordinance at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
“Watertown Skip the Stuff ordinance is designed to reduce unnecessary plastic waste in our community,” said City Councilor Nicole Gardner. “Under this simple, common sense policy, restaurants and food businesses will no longer automatically include items like plastic utensils, straws and condiment packets with takeout or delivery orders.”
Gardner added that customers can still request the items, and businesses can ask customers what items they would like included in their order.
“The ordinance also requires online ordering platforms to let customers choose which items they want included,” Gardner said. “Finally, the ordinance ensures that dine-in restaurants use reusable plates, cups and utensils.”
The ordinance will not go into effect immediately. Gardner said there will be a six-month period before Skip the Stuff is enforced, and the City will provide training and educational materials to customers and food businesses before the ordinance is enforced.
Resident Jocelyn Tager, a member of Watertown Faces Climate Change, said that Skip the Stuff ordinance will help the City meet the goals of its Resilient Watertown Climate and Energy Plan. She read from a letter written by the group.
“If we want Watertown to be as resilient as possible, we must do what is doable, and prohibit the use and distribution of single use, food and beverage, foodware accessories,” Tager said. “The exceptions and exemptions enumerated in the new ordinance have clearly been developed with stakeholders. The penalties are reasonable. Thank you for taking the small but important step.”
Councilor Tony Palomba asked how the ordinance would work and whether he would get a tray automatically if he went to Dunkin’. Gardner said employees should not automatically provide a tray, but he could ask for one.
Palomba also asked what would happen if he just wanted a spoon, and whether a restaurant could give him the prepackaged full set of utensils.
“The commonly received cellophane packet that has a napkin, knife, fork, spoon, when you only want a spoon, those are no longer allowed,” Gardner said.
The City Council unanimously approved the Skip the Stuff ordinance. See the full ordinance by clicking here.