Illinois has no statewide utensils-on-request statute. Cook County has not adopted countywide rules. Some Cook suburbs including Evanston restrict automatic utensil distribution under broader sustainability ordinances, while most suburbs leave the practice unregulated.
Unlike California AB 1276, Illinois has not enacted a utensils-on-request mandate restricting plastic utensil distribution at takeout, delivery, or drive-through. Cook County Code does not regulate utensil distribution. Evanston adopted a 2023 ordinance (Title 4 Ch. 25) requiring food vendors to provide single-use foodware accessories, including utensils, napkins, and condiment packets, only by customer request or self-service station. Oak Park considered similar rules in 2024 but did not adopt. Most suburban Cook restaurants follow only general health-code food-handling rules under Cook County DPH and individual municipal sustainability initiatives.
No countywide penalties exist. Evanston violators face fines $25 first offense and $100 for repeat violations under Title 4 Ch. 25. Cook County restaurants outside Evanston face no specific utensil-distribution penalties beyond general health code rules.
See how Arlington Heights's utensils-on-request rules stack up against other locations.
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