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.