Skip The Stuff

Quick Link: Information for Food Establishment Operators/Restaurants/Food Service

Introducing a NEW initiative for Wellesley - Skip the Stuff! 

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hands holding various utensil packs found on the beach

On April 14, 2025, Wellesley Town Meeting approved a new Board of Health bylaw (34.5D) known as “Skip the Stuff”. The purpose of “Skip the Stuff” is to reduce the waste created by single-use articles such as plastic utensils and single-serving packaged condiments. 

This bylaw is effective January 1, 2026,  and requires all food service establishments to provide single-use articles only upon customer request or at a self-service counter. This ordinance is intended to: 1) Reduce the amount of waste generated by single-use articles, 2) Change customer habits, 3) Help reduce unnecessary costs to food service establishments.

What’s the Problem?

Single-use food ware is a huge and growing portion of the waste stream entering landfills and incinerators, and polluting city streets and waterways.

In the U.S., 561 billion disposable food service items are used every year, resulting in 4.9 million tons of waste.

Americans use more than 36 billion utensils and as much as 142 billion straws each year.

Most restaurants provide these accessories for take-out meals even if the customer doesn’t need them.

The vast majority of these single-use items are not recyclable. Food packaging is usually too dirty to be recycled. Utensils and straws muck up recycling systems, and the plant-based products are actually a contaminant in many commercial compost facilities.

Learn more about the problem with single-use food ware.

Learn more about #skipthestuff.

More ways to reduce plastic use.

Learn more about our partners, Sustainable Wellesley, Wellesley Climate Action, and the Recycling and Disposable Facility (RDF)

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What’s the Solution?

Skip the Stuff sign saying take only what you needThe solution is simple. Restaurants need to ask first. Their default action should be not to provide accessories for takeout or delivery unless the customer requests them. It’s a simple solution that saves restaurants money and reduces waste. If you need food ware accessories, you can get them. And if you don’t need them, you can prevent the waste by exercising your right to #SkipTheStuff.

In April 2025, Wellesley Town Meeting approved Article 34.5D (known as “Skip the Stuff”) to reduce the waste created by single-use articles such as plastic utensils and single-serving packaged condiments. 

Starting in January 2026, all food service establishments are only able to provide single-use articles (forks, spoons, etc.) upon customer request or at a self-service counter.

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What Does This Mean for Wellesley Residents?skip the stuff split image

Food service establishments are only able to provide single-use articles (forks, spoons, condiments etc.) upon customer request or at a self-service counter.

  • Single-use articles may not be bundled together (ex: fork, spoon, knife, napkin, salt & pepper in one package).
  • When ordering online, you will need to select which, if any, utensils you would like included with your order. 

Look for signage and information in food service establishments, coming soon!