In its continuing effort to reduce plastic waste in town, Green Needham proposed two important initiatives for consideration at the May 2025 Town Meeting: 1) Skip the Stuff, and 2) the phase-out of black plastic take-out containers. In April 2025 the Select Board voted to include both items as Articles 11 and 12 on the Special Town Meeting Warrant. As a result, Town Meeting members will have the opportunity to decide whether the two plastic waste reduction initiatives will take effect in Needham. The vote is scheduled to take place at the Special Town Meeting on Monday, May 12, 2025, at Powers Hall.
The following is a brief summary of the two articles.
Article 11: Amend General By-Laws: Plastic Food and Beverage Serviceware and Single-Use Items
Skip the Stuff is a national campaign that seeks to curtail waste related to take-out and delivery meals. It recommends that restaurants end the practice of automatically providing plastic utensils, straws, condiments, and napkins to customers for meals eaten off premises. If approved by Town Meeting members on May 12th, the bylaw would have three requirements:
1) That restaurants make accessories available only upon request by the customer;
2) That businesses update their online ordering software to include a way to opt in for specific accessories, like utensils, napkins and condiments, but provides an exception if it is too difficult for a restaurant to convert their software; and
3) That full-service restaurants (where customers are seated and served by waitstaff) provide reusable tableware such as plates, cups, utensils, rather than disposable.
The Skip the Stuff initiative is considered a win for both the environment and businesses, as it will reduce waste and save restaurants money. Locally, Skip the Stuff ordinances have been passed in Hudson, Lexington, Newton, and Wellesley.
For more information, please see our FAQs available here.
Article 12: Black Plastic Kitchenware
Article 12 would prohibit food, beverage and retail sales establishments from dispensing prepared food, condiments, sauces, or beverages to any person in single-use dishware and containers made from black plastic.
Black plastic is a problematic material for several reasons. Often made from recycled electronic waste, black plastic can contain unregulated amounts of toxic chemicals, including heavy metals and flame retardants. In addition, black plastic is not recyclable because it is not detected by the optical light sensors at recycling facilities.
It has been phased out in other communities nearby, including Newton, Swampscott, and Hudson.
For more information, please see our FAQs available here.
