Overview
- The law, which took effect on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, stops restaurants from automatically including single-use plastic utensils, straws, napkins and condiment packets with takeout and delivery orders.
- Delivery apps must add an option for customers to request disposables when ordering and restaurants must honor those requests at pickup or delivery.
- Larger restaurants are required to offer reusable utensils for dine-in customers, a change meant to reduce waste from disposables inside restaurants.
- Restaurant groups and owners supported a statewide rule for consistency after more than 60 towns adopted similar local ordinances, and many operators say the change should lower costs even though it will require new procedures.
- Enforcement will start with warnings and repeat violations can lead to fines, but officials have not yet clarified how strictly the law will be policed or what fine amounts will be.