State Sen. Laura Fine (D-9th) (left) and State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Girshowitz (D-17th) (right).
A bill introduced by State Sen. Laura Fine (D-9th), whose chief house sponsor was State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-17th), both of Glenview, limiting the use of styrofoam food service products was signed into law Friday by Gov. JB Pritzker.
The law bans the use of styrofoam and polystyrene disposable food packaging products by state agencies, including universities by Jan. 1, 2025, and mandates tracking of disposable single-use plastic foodware products for one year. Those tracking reports would then be submitted to the Illinois General Assembly and the governor’s office.
“By finding environmentally friendly alternatives to styrofoam, this new law allows the state government to lead the way in protecting our environment,” Fine said. “Because it is so lightweight and easily breaks apart into smaller pieces, styrofoam tends to drift away. Since it is used so much in disposable packaging, polystyrene is one of the largest causes of global pollution.”
Fine told the Journal that the bill is, “a step in the right direction. Hopefully, companies will see this is possible.”
She said among the state entities which will have to transition away from styrofoam are universities and the state fair in Springfield.
“For years, non-biodegrade pollutants like polystyrene have piled up in landfills, clogged bodies of water, and left unsightly imprints on cities and towns across America. Banning these pollutants will prevent that contamination from spreading further,” Gong-Gershowitz said. “There is a lot more progress to make, but Illinois is committed to a greener future. Today we are taking a major step to crack down on this enduring threat to our environment.”
The post Glenview State Legislators Champion Styrofoam Food Container Ban first appeared on Journal & Topics Media Group.
Feeds,News,Region: AH,City: Arlington Heights
via Journal & Topics Media Group https://ift.tt/V0uwM98
August 11, 2023 at 01:44PM
Illinois Delivered 