City Council lawmakers on Tuesday introduced a “Choose To Reuse” bill that would mandate fast food eateries offer throwaway cutlery and containers only upon request.
In other words, the default would be reusable materials. These eateries would also be required to establish a return system for reusable food packaging or face fines of up to $200 for every offense.
Supporters call this bill “the most significant legislation on reusable packing in the United States.” New York City generates 14 million tons of trash every year with about 23 billion disposable food service items being a part of it.
City Council members Marjorie Velázquez, Keith Powers, Erik Bottcher and Sandy Nurse sponsored the bill, and they’ve got the support of President Mark Levine, City Council.
“It’s giving the power back to the consumer,” Velázquez said. “It’s the choice that restaurants would have to give you a reusable container so you can drop off at any site afterwards that is participating so you have a clean, reusable container while saving the environment. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
“New York city can be the leader and set the example,” said Powers. “We can show other cities how it gets done.”
