What's Required

All retail food facilities and food delivery platforms must:

  1. Provide items only on request — Do not automatically include utensils, straws, stirrers, or condiment packets
  2. Keep items unbundled — Single-use items cannot be bundled together
  3. Update online ordering — Third-party delivery platforms must allow item-by-item requests

Covered items include:

  • Utensils (forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks)
  • Straws and stirrers
  • Condiment cups and packets
  • Any single-use accessory, regardless of material (plastic, compostable, paper, bamboo)

Resources

StopWaste AB 1276 Fact Sheet

As of January 2022, California law AB 1276 requires all retail food facilities and food delivery platforms to provide single-use foodware accessories and condiments upon request only. Foodware items covered by the law include single-use utensils, straws, chopsticks, stirrers, and condiment cups and packets, including those made from bioplastics, compostable plastic, bamboo, and paper. Facilities found in violation of the law may be fined. Download this fact sheet to learn more about what the law requires and steps you can take to comply. Also available in Chinese, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Example Signage: Single-Use Items

Download example signage for your establishment to help communicate that single-use items are only provided upon request. The PDF contains multiple color schemes, and may be modified as needed.

Exceptions

  • Drive-throughs and airports: Staff may proactively ask customers if they want items
  • Self-serve stations: Allowed if items are unbundled and unwrapped

How to Comply

  • Train Staff - Instruct employees to withhold items unless specifically requested by customers.
  • Update Signage - Post notices informing customers they can request utensils, straws, and condiments as needed.
  • Remove Pre-Bundled Items - Eliminate combo packs and pre-wrapped utensil sets.
  • Configure Online Ordering - Work with delivery platforms to add item-by-item request options.

Questions?

Contact StopWaste for compliance assistance:
compliance@stopwaste.org