NYC COUNCIL BILLS
The New York City Council is currently considering a number of bills to enforce stricter guidelines around single-use plastic and encouraging the use of reusables. Reusable NYC is supporting the three bills below:
Int. 0781-2026: Requiring food service establishments to permit the use of reusable cups provided by customers. “Right to Refill”
Prime Sponsor: Shaun Abreu
Committee: Consumer and Worker Protection
Summary: This bill would require all food service establishments in the city to allow customers to substitute their own reusable beverage cups in place of the single-use beverage cups provided by those food service establishments. It would also require food service establishments that serve beverages in single-use cups to post signage announcing that “Customers may request the service of beverages in their own reusable cups.”
Int. 0069-2026: Prohibiting city agencies from procuring single-use plastic water containers.
Prime Sponsor: Julie Won
Committee: Contracts
Summary: This bill would prohibit city agencies from entering into or renewing contracts for the purchase of single-use plastic water containers or meals or refreshments that include such containers, with exceptions for protection of public health and safety, emergencies, or for contracts that were in existence before the bill’s effective date.
Int. 0795-2026: Requiring the installation of outdoor drinking fountains in parks under the jurisdiction of the department of parks and in other public places.
Prime Sponsor: Sandy Nurse
Committee: Environmental Protection and Waterfronts
Summary: This bill would require the Department of Parks and Recreation (Parks) to install, replace, or upgrade 500 outdoor drinking fountains by 2035. The bill would require such fountains to have bottle filling stations and be accessible to people with disabilities. Additionally, Parks would be required to report the locations of the 500 fountains, and assess the feasibility of year-round outdoor drinking fountains.
PASSED FEB. 1, 2023: Council Member Velazquez’s “Skip the Stuff” Bill Int. 0559-2022
Takeout and delivery requirements
Utensils, napkins, and condiment packets are available upon request only.
Meal delivery services must provide options to allow customers to request utensils, napkins, or condiment packets when ordering via phone or internet. The default option will be that none were requested.
Restaurants may not include utensils, napkins, or condiment packets in a customer’s order unless they were requested by the customer.