What We're Doing to Reduce Waste at Home and Around Town
Won't you join us?
Stop the Stuff
“Stop the Stuff” is a Cranford ordinance designed to reduce unnecessary single-use waste from takeout and delivery orders.
Restaurants are prohibited from automatically including disposable items—such as plastic utensils, napkins, straws, and condiment packets—unless a customer specifically requests them.
What You Can Do
- Only request disposable items when you truly need them.
- When ordering online, look for (or ask for) an option to choose utensils/condiments only if needed.
- Keep a small set of reusable utensils in your car, bag, or desk for takeout meals.
- If you receive unrequested items, kindly let the restaurant know—many are happy to adjust their process.
Composting
Composting is an effective way to reduce household waste while returning valuable nutrients to the soil.
Food scraps and yard waste make up a significant portion of what ends up in landfills, even though these materials can often be composted instead.
What You Can Do
- Start small: collect fruit/vegetable scraps and coffee grounds, and add yard waste like leaves when available.
- Use a countertop container to make composting easy and keep food scraps contained.
- Learn what to include (and what to avoid) to prevent odors and pests.
- If home composting isn’t a fit, explore local drop-off or pickup options when available.