OLYMPIA, Wash. – Restaurants in Washington will no longer automatically include single-use items like utensils, condiments, and straws with food orders.

A new law comes into force on January 1 restricting the use of these items and banning packaged packaging of single-use items to reduce waste and litter.

Under the new law, customers can still request individual items if needed, confirm their choice when asked, or select the item they want from a self-service station.

“Automatically including disposable silverware, straws and condiments with every order creates an enormous amount of waste, much of which ends up littering our roads and damaging our environment,” said Laurie Davies, Solid Waste Program Manager at the Washington Department of Ecology. “This law pushes people to help reduce unnecessary waste. ”

Single-use foodservice items are a major contaminant in Washington’s recycling system that decreases the value of recycled materials.

The Ecology Department says 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.

Single-use catering items covered by the new requirements include:

• Utensils (knives, forks, spoons, chopsticks)
• Cocktail sticks, splash sticks and stirrers
• Straws
• Condiment packages, sachets or sauce cups

READ: What you need to know about Washington’s plastic bag ban

RELATED: Plastic Bags Now Cost 8 Cents in Washington, But Where Does That Money Go?

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