Suffolk County, NY Single-Use Items: Plastic Straw Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- Straws/stirrers on request only
- Enforcer
- Dept. of Health Services
- First fine
- $100
- Repeat fine
- up to $400/day
- Effective
- January 1, 2020
Summary
Suffolk County restaurants and food service establishments may hand out single-use beverage straws and stirrers only when a customer asks for one, under a 2019 county law aimed at cutting plastic waste.
Food service establishments shall only provide single-use beverage straws or beverage stirrers upon request by a consumer. This restriction shall not apply to prepackaged individual serving beverages where a small plastic straw is included in the packaging. Beverages purchased at a drive through window or at self-service beverage station shall be exempt from this provision.
B. Food service establishments shall not provide single-use straws that are individually wrapped in plastic. This restriction shall not apply to prepackaged individual serving beverages where a small plastic straw is included in the packaging.
C. Straws and beverage stirrers provided by food service establishments upon request by a consumer or at a drive through window or self-service beverage station shall be biodegradable and/or backyard compostable. A consumer with a disability or medical condition may be provided with a plastic or other nonbiodegradable straw or stirrer if the consumer so requests.
Full Breakdown
Suffolk County Code § 700-15 bars food service establishments from providing single-use beverage straws or stirrers unless the consumer requests one, and bars individually plastic-wrapped straws outright. Straws given out on request must be biodegradable or backyard-compostable, except a customer citing a disability or medical condition can still get a plastic straw. Prepackaged single-serving beverages with an attached straw, drive-through orders, and self-service beverage stations are exempt. The Department of Health Services enforces the article, which took effect January 1, 2020.
Violations & Fines
Civil penalties: $100 for a first violation, $200 for a second within 12 months, $400 for each subsequent violation within 12 months. Each day of noncompliance is a separate offense, and the Department of Health Services must give notice and a hearing before imposing a fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a restaurant still hand me a straw automatically?
Are plastic straws banned outright in Suffolk County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Suffolk County
New York rules heatmap·Compare Suffolk County to another location·View the New York single-use items overview
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