Law against straws, sporks, lids, set to start Jan. 1

OLYMPIA – Restaurants can no longer automatically include single-use foodservice items like utensils, condiments, and straws with food orders starting Jan. 1.

New state law restricts the use of the items and prohibits selling packaged bundles of them to reduce waste and litter.

“Customers can still request individual items if needed,” said Dave Bennett, DOE communications spokesperson. “Customers must request it, confirm their choice when asked, or select the item they want from a self-serve station.”

Single-use food service items covered by the new requirements include:

• Utensils (knives, forks, spoons, chopsticks, sporks)

• Cocktail picks, splash sticks, and coffee stirrers

• Straws

• Condiment packets, sachets, or sauce cups

• Cold cup lids, except those provided at drive-through windows or events with more than 2,500 people

“Automatically including disposable silverware, straws, and condiments with every order creates a huge amount of waste, much of which ends up littering our roads and damaging our environment. This law nudges people to help reduce unnecessary waste,” said Laurie Davies, manager of the Solid Waste program at the Washington Department of Ecology (DOE).

Single-use food service items are a contaminant in Washington’s recycling system that decreases the value of recycled materials, according to the DOE.

“Reducing their use will protect the state’s rivers and streams, help the recycling system run more efficiently, and contribute to a growing culture of waste reduction and reuse,” said Davies.