Beginning in 2022, businesses can no longer automatically include some single-use items in customer orders. Customers will have to verbally confirm that they want single-use items, or they must select items from self-service bins instead of having them automatically included with a food order.
Affected items include:
- Utensils (knives, forks, spoons, cocktail picks, chopsticks, splash sticks, and stirrers)
- Straws
- Condiment packages
- Cup lids for cold beverages (Cold beverage lids may be provided by default at drive-thru.)
Items that are still OK to include with a customer’s order without verbal confirmation include:
- Plates, bowls, cups, and other products used to contain food or beverages
- Lids for hot beverages
- Wrappers for takeout food items
- Items provided by medical facilities
You can read more on the Washington State Department of Ecology website here and read the law here.
