Illinois has no statewide mandatory commercial organics or food-scrap diversion law comparable to California SB 1383. The Illinois Food Scrap Composting Pilot (415 ILCS 20) authorizes voluntary programs. Cook County Solid Waste Plan encourages but does not require residential organics; suburban municipalities run optional curbside collection.
Unlike California, New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont, Illinois has no statewide mandatory organics diversion law for residents or commercial generators. The Illinois Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act (415 ILCS 15) and the Food Scrap Composting Pilot in 415 ILCS 20 authorize voluntary local programs. Cook County's Solid Waste Management Plan encourages organics diversion but imposes no household or business mandate. Suburban Cook municipalities (Evanston, Oak Park, Wilmette, Glenview) offer optional fee-based curbside food-scrap pickup. Chicago runs a small voluntary drop-off pilot. As of 2026 no Illinois statute requires participation by households or businesses.
Because organics diversion is voluntary, omitting scraps from collection is not enforceable. Suburban municipalities may issue contamination notices when participants place non-organic material in compost carts, leading to opt-out from the voluntary program but not statutory fines.
See how Arlington Heights's mandatory organics recycling rules stack up against other locations.
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