Waste Dive
21 January 2026
New Jersey adopts law to reduce restaurants’ plastic waste
Why It Matters for ITAD
This signals a broader, accelerating regulatory push against single-use plastics that will inevitably impact ITAD packaging and operations. ITAD firms should audit their own plastic use in packing materials, shrink wrap, and internal disposables to preempt similar workplace or shipping material regulations. This trend also increases scrutiny on all waste streams, potentially raising client expectations for comprehensive sustainability reporting beyond just e-waste.
The by-request-only policy for takeout utensils and condiment packets adds to similar laws in states including California and Washington and cities such as New York.
Key Takeaways
- • Regulatory focus on plastics is expanding beyond consumer goods to business operations, including shipping/packaging.
- • Proactively reducing single-use plastics in ITAD operations (e.g., packing materials) is a prudent compliance and marketing strategy.
- • This reinforces the need for holistic environmental reporting to clients, covering more than just electronics recycling.
