Plastic Straw Rules: Arlington Heights vs Chicago
How do plastic straw rules rules compare between Arlington Heights, IL and Chicago, IL?
Arlington Heights has fewer restrictions than Chicago.
Arlington Heights, IL
Cook County
Illinois has no statewide straws-on-request law and Cook County imposes none. Restaurants may freely offer plastic straws to customers. A few Cook County suburbs encourage on-request distribution but no enforceable countywide rule exists.
View full Arlington Heights rules →Chicago, IL
Cook County
Chicago Municipal Code chapter 7-38 bars food and beverage establishments from automatically providing single-use plastic straws and stirrers. Servers must give a straw only if a customer asks. Self-service straw stations and pre-set straws on tables are prohibited.
View full Chicago rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Arlington Heights | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| State law | No straws-on-request mandate | - |
| County rule | None | - |
| Forest Preserve | Event-specific limits | - |
| ADA access | Always preserved | - |
| City code | - | MCC chapter 7-38 |
| Default | - | Straws on request only |
| Self-service stations | - | Prohibited |
| Disability access | - | Accommodation required |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Arlington Heights FAQ
Can restaurants give me a plastic straw automatically?
Yes. Cook County and Illinois have no on-request rule. Restaurants may offer plastic straws by default unless a specific suburb has passed its own ordinance.
What about paper or compostable straws?
Restaurants may use any straw type they choose. There is no Cook County preference or mandate; decisions are left to individual businesses and any home-rule municipal rules.
Chicago FAQ
Can a Chicago coffee shop set out a self-serve straw caddy?
No. MCC chapter 7-38 bars self-service plastic straw stations. Staff must hand a straw individually to customers who request one, and pre-stocked caddies are not allowed.
Are paper or compostable straws restricted too?
Non-plastic straws may be offered, but the on-request default applies broadly. Many Chicago restaurants voluntarily limit even paper straws to requests to reduce overall single-use waste.
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