Plastic pollution is a highly pervasive threat to not only the health of our environment but of all Illinoisans as well. Plastic waste is unique in that it never fully disintegrates and instead infiltrates our waterways and affects public health and wildlife. 

22 million pounds of plastic enter the Great Lakes each year, and just over half of that ends up in Lake Michigan. We can’t recycle our way out of this problem: over 91% of our plastic isn’t recycled, and less than 1% of foam gets recycled. Worse yet, our unrecyclable plastic items clog recycling equipment, contaminate recyclable materials, and pass by optical sorting machinery.

We must act now and address the worst of these materials—foam cups, containers, other foodware, and plastic carryout bags.

Polystyrene Foam Foodware Ban (HB2376)

Amends the Environmental Protection Act to provide that, beginning January 1, 2025, a retail establishment in Illinois may not sell or distribute a disposable food service container that is composed in whole or in part of polystyrene foam. Certain entities would be exempt from the prohibition until January 1, 2026.   

Plastic Bag Ban (HB4448 / SB2211)

Amends the Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act to provide that (1) no store or food service business shall provide or sell a single-use plastic carryout bag to a customer and (2) no grocery store shall provide or sell a single-use paper carryout bag to a customer.

League Position