In the media.
Manufacturers would stop selling Styrofoam containers under Illinois bill
Illinois Delivered|March 26, 2025
Illinois restaurants and other businesses may have to say goodbye to styrofoam cups. Last week, the fight against plastic waste moved forward in the Senate committee, which aims to ban Styrofoam and single-use bags.
Go Green Glen Ellyn receives grant to reduce single-use plastic waste
Shaw Local News Network, Go Green Glen Ellyn|January 15, 2025
Go Green Glen Ellyn will use the grant to fund three programs:
Make Glen Ellyn events more sustainable by providing branded, recyclable aluminum cups to replace single-use plastic beverage glasses
Fund an outdoor bottle filling station at Glen Ellyn Park District’s outdoor fields at Ackerman Park
Create a community event rental library that offers reusable items like linens, glasses and drink dispensers for residents’ events
Great Time To Get Behind Ban On Styrofoam, Journal & Topics
KT Petersen, Go Green Des Plaines|December 13, 2024
“These problems are why the approaching new year is the perfect opportunity for Illinois to support House Bill (HB) 2376. This is why I resolved as a citizen, mother, naturalist, tree lover, and Go Green Des Plaines representative to advocate for a 2025 statewide ban on polystyrene, commonly known by the trade name Styrofoam.”
Presentation By CPR’s Jacquelyn CasazZa On Plastic And Human HealTH CONCERNS
Presentation to DuPage County Board on Plastic and Human Health Concerns | May 28, 2024
Go Green Glen Ellyn President and CPR Member Jacquelyn Casazza presented to DuPage County Board members about plastic pollution and human health concerns. We encourage you to watch the 10 min presentation beginning around the 20:30 mark.
Illinois bill continues chemical recycling debate
Resource Recycling | March 20, 2023
CPR member representatives Jen Walling (IEC) and Andrea Densham (Alliance for the Great Lakes/Ocean Conservancy) are quoted
Measure would phase out use of single-use plastic polystyrene foam food ware
Kevin Bessler, The Center Square | Feb 28, 2023
“Abe Scarr, Illinois director for the Illinois Public Interest Research Group, said the single-use containers are not ideal for recycling. ‘Less than one percent of it ever gets recycled, so we’re using something for maybe 5 or 10 minutes and then putting it out into the world for hundreds and hundreds of years,’ Scarr told The Center Square.
Breaking Free from Foam: How Illinois and Chicago Can Reduce Plastic Waste
IL Environmental Council Blog | March 29, 2023
Contributors: Iyana Simba, IEC City Programs Director; Chelsey Grassfield, Friends of the Chicago River Policy Manager; Claudia Jackson, League of Women Voters-Chicago; Emily Kowalski, Outreach and Engagement Manager, Environment Illinois
Statement: Legislation to phase out plastic foam food ware advances
Illinois PIRG | March 21, 2023
“Legislation to phase out the use of single-use plastic polystyrene foam food ware starting in 2024 advanced out of the Illinois House Tuesday afternoon on an 67-43 vote.”
Bills introduced to ban single-use plastics at Illinois restaurants
Patrick M. Keck, State Journal-Register | Feb 23, 2023
“Brent Schwoerer, the owner of Engrained Brewing Company in Springfield, said during a press conference at the state Capitol, his restaurant already uses reusable straws and to-go food containers at its Lincolnshire Boulevard location.
‘Sustainability has been something important to me ever since I was a kid,’ he said. ‘It makes complete sense that we should eliminate single-use plastics.’”
Letter to the editor, Chicago Tribune
Jon Schmidt | August 4, 2024
(Note: Jon’s letter is in the bottom lefthand corner.)
The scourge of plastic pollution: “State legislators have an opportunity in Illinois to end single-use plastic bags and Styrofoam during the veto session in November –as have other states across the country.” Jon Schmidt, CPR Member and Organizing for Plastics Alternatives (OPA)
What does your health have to do with plastic?, Patch
Plastics & Human Health: more than just unsightly, Youtube
Read about and watch a recording of a panel describing the health risks of plastics from a hybrid event at Sketchbook Brewing Co. in Skokie, Ivy Sundell, Replace Plastic NFP|December 2024
“The distressing images of plastic waste contaminating every corner of our globe don’t tell the full story of how plastics affect our health. Plastics carry with them chemicals that are linked to various diseases, and the tiny breakdown products of these plastics may themselves increase disease risk. The plastic problem is not just about waste or a failure of recycling; it’s also about public health and our need to protect this and future generations from harm.”
Illinois takes initial steps to phase out plastic foam foodware
Illinois PIRG | May 22, 2023
“Legislation to phase out the use of single-use plastic polystyrene foam foodware in state facilities passed both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly last week and is being sent to Gov. Pritzker for his signature.”
Ban on Plastic Foam To-Go Containers and Utensils Passes Illinois House
Patty Wetli, WTTW | March 22, 2023
“On Tuesday, the Illinois House of Representatives passed legislation — by a 67-43 vote — that would phase out single-use polystyrene foam foodware beginning in January 2024. A companion bill has been introduced in the Illinois Senate and awaits action.”
LETTER: Banning polystyrene foam is critical
LTE, Journal Gazette & Times Courier | March 3, 2023
“Styrene is dangerous to the workers who produce it, the people who eat and drink from it, and the people who dispose of it. Scientists already know that chemicals added to plastics like phthalates can cause diabetes, cancer and reproductive problems.”
State legislators introduce bill to ban single-use foodware made of polystyrene foam
Jenny Whidden, Daily Herald | Feb 22, 2023
“State representatives on Wednesday introduced a bill that would prohibit retailers from selling or distributing single-use foodware made of polystyrene foam, more commonly known by the brand name Styrofoam.”
CPR Plastics Lobby Day coverage
NewsRadio WTAX - Champaign, IL|March 20, 2025
A short segment recapping CPR’s Plastics Lobby Day in Springfield, IL on March 20, 2025.
Depolymerization’; ten-dollar word causes stir at Lake County Board meeting
Chicago Tribune|January 15, 2025
“We’ve been misled in the past by the plastics industry that plastic recycling is working,” she said, pointing to reporting by NPR that found plastic-makers had championed recycling primarily for public relations rather than reducing environmental damage. I think we’re back there again today. They’re saying, ‘OK, now we have this chemical recycling that is going to take all this plastic waste and recycle it.’ This technology is not proven yet. Let’s not just jump on it. We don’t know enough.” ~Seema Keshav, Go Green Vernon Hills & Lincolnshire
Tell Lawmakers to Ban Polystyrene
Leslie Ann Kalvass, Sierra Club|November 23, 2024
“The holidays are the perfect time to promote early New Year’s Resolutions. This is why I resolved as a citizen, mother, and health care professional to support a 2025 state-wide ban on polystyrene, commonly known by the trade name Styrofoam™. Why should anyone focus on an economical plastic that has been used in cups or containers for decades? Where will bored youth and young-at heart folk leave their teeth impressions, if not around the rims of Styrofoam™ cups?.”
Refill, return, reimagine: Meet Illinois businesses committed to reducing plastic & packaging waste
Environment Illinois | July 26, 2024
A webinar with CPR member panelists that own businesses and promote returnable packaging, refillable containers and reimagined products that reduce the need for single-use plastic packaging.
Kaitlin Soto, Creator of Flourish Juice Co. based in Joliet, IL
Kelli Pelc, Founder of The Refilleri in Chicago, IL
“I came away inspired by the potential zero waste future these business owners are helping us to envision.” Emily Kowalski, CPR Steering Committee, and Environment Illinois, Outreach & Engagement Manager
Not fantastic
Dave Dahl, WTAX News | Feb 22, 2023
“Andrea Densham of the Alliance for the Great Lakes told a statehouse news conference Wednesday, ‘To truly tackle the plastic pollution problem, we must move upstream and prevent the pollution at the source. ‘“
TAckling Plastic Pollution in Illinois
Illinois Environmental Council|March 20, 2025
The environmental community, through the Coalition for Plastic Reduction, made major strides today in policy that will drastically reduce plastic pollution in our state. Cornerstone legislation phasing out the use of certain types of single-use plastics advanced out of the Illinois State Senate Environment and Conservation Committee today, an unprecedented milestone for legislation of this kind in Illinois.
We are all plastic PeopLe Now
Go Green Vernon Hills & Lincolnshire and Vernon Area Public Library| August 6, 2024
Co-sponsored by Go Green Highland Park, Go Green Glen Ellyn, Coalition for Plastic Reduction and League of Women Voters, Illinois
Plastic pollution poses a significant threat to our environment. Scientists have discovered plastic pollution in every corner of the globe, from mountain tops to ocean trenches and inside our own bodies, in our blood, our lungs and other organs. Panelists talked about how legislative policies and innovative solutions can help with the plastic crisis.
Illinois House Passes Legislation Banning Single-Use Plastics Food Service Containers
Stefanie Valentic, Waste 360 | March 23, 2023
“Illinois House representatives have advanced legislation phasing out single-use plastic polystyrene foam containers at food service establishments.”