Single-Use Items in New York (2026)
24 rules on the books across New York, 12 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Plastic Bag Rules
Whether plastic carryout bags are banned, taxed, or exempt from local regulation under state preemption.
Polystyrene Foam Rules
State rules on expanded polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) cups, takeout containers, and packaging, including statewide bans and preemption of local bans.
Plastic Straw Rules
State rules on plastic straws, including on-request-only mandates, full bans, and states that preempt local straw ordinances.
Albany County
Heavy RestrictionsAlbany County Chapter 170, Article III (L.L. No. 1-2020) bans establishments from offering consumers any single-use…
Read full rule →Southampton
Significant RestrictionsIn the Town of Southampton outside the villages, food service establishments and beverage providers may give out…
Read full rule →New York
Some RestrictionsNew York City food service establishments cannot hand out single-use plastic beverage straws unless a customer asks for…
Read full rule →Suffolk County
Some RestrictionsSuffolk County restaurants and food service establishments may hand out single-use beverage straws and stirrers only…
Read full rule →Ulster County
Some RestrictionsUlster County restaurants and fast food establishments may only give out plastic beverage straws when a customer…
Read full rule →Yonkers
Some RestrictionsRestaurants, bars, grocery stores and other food and drink sellers in Yonkers can only hand out plastic straws when a…
Read full rule →Buffalo
Light RestrictionsBuffalo bars any restaurant, bar, or place of business from serving a drinking straw to a customer unless it is…
Read full rule →Troy
Light RestrictionsIn the City of Troy, New York, food service establishments shall only provide plastic straws upon request to customers…
Read full rule →Utensils-On-Request
Rules barring food vendors from automatically including plastic utensils, condiment packets, or napkins unless customers request them.
New York
Significant RestrictionsNew York City bars food service establishments and third-party delivery services from including single-use eating…
Read full rule →Albany County
Some RestrictionsAlbany County Code § 170-19 requires restaurants, fast-food outlets, drive-throughs and beverage providers to hand out…
Read full rule →Westchester County
Some RestrictionsFood service establishments and retail food stores in Westchester County may give out single-use utensils, straws and…
Read full rule →Plastic Cups
Restrictions on disposable plastic cups, including bans, fees, and reusable/compostable alternative requirements at events and food service.
Takeout Containers
Rules requiring compostable, recyclable, or reusable takeout containers, including LA's polystyrene ban and Customers-Bring-Their-Own programs.
Albany County
Heavy RestrictionsAlbany County's Food Service Waste Reduction Act (Ch. 170, Art. II) bars every food service establishment from selling…
Read full rule →Glen Cove
Heavy RestrictionsGlen Cove bars every retail food establishment from selling food in anything but biodegradable packaging, and…
Read full rule →Nassau County
Heavy RestrictionsNassau County prohibits every food service establishment, store, and mobile food commissary from selling or offering…
Read full rule →New York
Heavy RestrictionsNew York City prohibits food service establishments, mobile food commissaries, and stores from possessing, selling, or…
Read full rule →Southampton
Heavy RestrictionsIn the Town of Southampton outside the villages, food service establishments, mobile food commissaries and stores may…
Read full rule →Suffolk County
Heavy RestrictionsSuffolk County bans polystyrene foam takeout containers outright. No food service establishment, mobile food…
Read full rule →Troy
Heavy RestrictionsIn the City of Troy, New York, food service establishments are prohibited from using single-use food service ware made…
Read full rule →Ulster County
Heavy RestrictionsUlster County bans polystyrene foam food service ware under the Food Service Waste Reduction Act. No chain restaurant…
Read full rule →Westchester County
Heavy RestrictionsWestchester County bans food service vendors and stores from possessing, selling or using expanded polystyrene foam…
Read full rule →Rockland County
Significant RestrictionsRockland County Code § 267-4 bans polystyrene foam cups, clamshells, trays and other disposable food service ware from…
Read full rule →