Illinois requires full-service restaurants to provide single-use plastic straws only upon customer request under Public Act 102-0532, with local governments free to add stricter rules.
Public Act 102-0532 (effective January 1, 2022) added Section 5/22-58 to the Environmental Protection Act, requiring full-service restaurants to provide single-use plastic straws only on customer request. The law does not preempt municipalities from enacting broader bans, and Evanston has prohibited polystyrene and certain plastic foodware. The Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act (415 ILCS 15) encourages waste reduction. State enforcement is by the Illinois EPA; local rules are enforced under each municipality's ordinance.
First violations of the on-request rule trigger a written notice; subsequent violations may result in civil penalties up to $250 per offense administered by the Illinois EPA.
See how Urbana's plastic straw rules rules stack up against other locations.
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