Bill > S03911

This bill, titled "Prohibits public food service establishments operating in the state from providing excess food service items including single-use utensils, condiments, napkins and extra containers, to any customer except upon, and in accordance with, the express request of that customer," aims to reduce waste by requiring restaurants and other food service providers to only give out items like plastic cutlery, ketchup packets, napkins, and extra containers if a customer specifically asks for them. This applies to all takeout, drive-thru, and delivery orders, regardless of how they are placed. The bill defines terms such as "condiment," "customer," "eating container," "napkin," "public food service establishment," and "single-use utensil." It also outlines penalties for violations, starting with a warning for the first offense and a civil penalty of up to $100 for subsequent offenses in the same year, with a hearing required before any penalty is assessed. Importantly, this law does not apply to cities with a population of one million or more that already have similar local regulations in place. The bill also amends the State Finance Law to direct any money collected from violations of this new law into the environmental protection fund. The provisions of this act will take effect one year after it becomes law.