Cook County has no countywide ban on polystyrene foam food containers. County Code Ch. 30 limits foam in certain county-operated facilities. Chicago and several suburbs (Evanston, Oak Park) have stronger municipal foam restrictions.
Cook County has not enacted a comprehensive polystyrene ban. County procurement rules under Ch. 30 (Environment) require county-operated cafeterias and concessions to phase out polystyrene foam in favor of compostable or recyclable alternatives, but private businesses face no countywide foam restriction. Illinois has no statewide foam ban. Cook County home-rule suburbs with active foam rules include Evanston (banned 2014), Oak Park, and parts of Chicago through municipal sustainable-procurement standards. The Forest Preserve District prohibits polystyrene at picnic and event permits.
No countywide retail penalty. County-facility violations are administrative; suburb-specific bans typically fine retailers $100 to $500 per offense after warnings.
See how Oak Park's polystyrene foam rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.