Gong-Gershowitz Bill Enacts Limits on Single-Use Plastic Waste, Continues to Secure Environmental Progress

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Building on her previous pro-environment successes, state Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview, passed a measure prohibiting restaurants from providing single-use plastic disposable food-ware unless requested by customers.

“The wasteful practice of routinely handing out unasked-for disposable food-ware to restaurant customers has just resulted in countless untouched plastic forks and overlooked single-use spoons in Illinois landfills, while imposing higher operating costs on Illinois restaurants,” Gong-Gershowitz said. “This bill will double down on our commitment to creating a more environmentally friendly future by prohibiting the use of disposable food-ware unless customers request it. It’s common for restaurants to do this with plastic straw dispensers, we’re just applying that practice to other food-ware.”

Gong-Gershowitz passed House Bill 1600 out of the House with the support of the Illinois Environmental Council and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. This bill amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to prohibit restaurants from providing single-use plastic disposable food-ware to customers unless specifically requested. The first violation results in a warning, subsequent violations result in $25 per day penalties.

“Illinois is making great progress creating responsible pro-environment policy and I have been proud to play a leading role in that effort in recent years,” Gong-Gershowitz said. “Lawmakers need to hold ourselves accountable to future generations and common-sense practices that preserve our environment are an essential piece of that promise to the next generation.”