Letters

How many people bring home a bag of delicious takeout and eat it at the kitchen table with plastic silverware? Not many, I would guess. In fact, the plastic silverware and condiments likely go straight to the garbage, along with the bags and wrappers — or, worse, become litter.

Last Wednesday, the Sag Harbor Village Board passed the “Skip the Stuff” amendment to the village code. This language stops the practice of restaurants and food vendors automatically including plastic utensils, napkins, condiments, etc., with takeout and delivery food.

You say you are headed to the beach for a picnic and you need the plastic stuff to eat your chicken parm? No problem. Just ask.

According to Surfrider, every year, Americans use 1 trillion disposable foodware items, generating 9 million tons of waste. Surfrider volunteers see these items on nearly every beach cleanup — utensils, straws and condiment packets are the most common debris items collected — and every year U.S. restaurants spend over $20 billion on such unneeded items.

So, one and done, right? The trustees passed a law, right? Not really. What happens in Village Hall doesn’t immediately get translated into changed behavior.

That’s where all of us come into play. When ordering or picking up, just say no to plastic knives, forks and spoons. Just say “Skip the Stuff.” At the counter, pull it out of the bag with a smile and let them know you neither need nor want the stuff.

In time, behavior will change.

Gratefully acknowledging the help and guidance of Surfrider Long Island, the Southampton Town Sustainability Committee and our own Environmental Advisory Committee.

Mary Ann Eddy

Sag Harbor