Zero Waste Lobby Day in Springfield

 Zero Waste Lobby Day in Springfield

Environmental and health advocates from around the State of Illinois traveled to Springfield on Wednesday, May 15, to lobby on behalf of several bills designed to curb the flow single use plastics into our waterways, land, waste streams and even bodies. 

On tap for this legislative session are a number of policy initiatives that address the growing problem of single use plastics including the following:

  • HB2374 & SB100 (Farewell to Foam): This bill seeks to end the practice of using styrofoam to serve and package food. Styrofoam is widely regarded as the worst of the worst forms of fossil fuel-based packaging and has already been banned in numerous states. 
  • HB4448 & SB2211 (Plastic Bag Ban): This bill would prohibit most merchandisers from distributing plastic bags at retail outlets. Customers would now be responsible for bringing their own cloth bags or reusable/stitched handle bags. No more single use plastics being released into our environment. 
  • HB4639 (Hotel Toiletries): This bill (now passed by both Senate and House and on its way to the governor's office) would require hotels to only provide refillable soaps, shampoos, and conditioners for hotel guests. This is already in place in many hotels across the country. The measure will save millions and millions of these little plastic bottles from reaching our waste streams, etc.

While this is the work of legislators, it only is brought to their attention by tireless advocates who have been working on these issues for years and years. Senators like Mike Simmons and Laura Fine (below) have signed on to these measures and have been great partners in this work. Organizing for Plastic Alternatives (OPA) and the Coalition for Plastic Reduction (CPR) have devoted thousands of hours to this work over the years. We are beginning to see movement. 

Consider contacting your state legislators and ask them to support this legislation. 

 

Senator Laura Fine meets with citizen activists

Senator Mike Simmons meets with citizen activists







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