With two full weeks of the legislative session left before the May 31 deadline, IEC is working overtime to ensure our priorities cross the finish line.
A Sprint to Accelerate Illinois’ Clean Energy Progress Read More »
Whether you’re a hot cup of tea and meditate kind of person or a toss the leftover pizza in the microwave kind of person, you probably ate plastic this morning. Tiny plastic particles called microplastics easily find their way into the things we eat and drink — and there’s little you can do to avoid
We’re midway through the legislative session. Our team has been hard at work this week rounding up roll call votes for many of the bills we’ve been tracking.
Conservation Advocacy in Illinois Read More »
Our legislative team at IEC has been working hard to ensure our bill sponsors have the tools and public support to advance our agenda this session.
Tackling Plastic Pollution in Illinois Read More »
Dany Robles speaks to the amount of microplastics ingested by each person in a week — one credit card’s worth. Escuche esto: si le dijera que esta semana comió y bebió la cantidad de plástico que vale esta tarjeta de crédito, ¿qué pensaría? En este investigación especial, conocemos lo microplásticos como un contaminante invisible que
Microplásticos: Contaminantes Invisibles Read More »
Springfield, IL. – Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation to reduce plastic pollution in Illinois today. The Large Event Facilities Act (SB2876) requires large event facilities with legal occupancies of at least 3,500 people to provide attendees with recycling and composting bins, reducing single-use plastic and food scrap waste. “IEC is grateful to Gov. Pritzker, Sen.
New Recycling and Composting Law Coming to Illinois with Gov. Pritzker’s Signature Read More »
Chicago, IL – On Friday, Governor Pritzker signed the Small Single-Use Plastic Bottle Act (SB2960) into law, which requires hotels with 50 or more rooms to eliminate the use of small, single-use plastic bottles containing personal care products in individual rooms and public bathrooms beginning July 1, 2025. By Jan. 1, 2026, all hotels are
Illinois First Great Lakes State to Reduce Single-use Plastic Bottles in Hotels Read More »
Early Wednesday morning, days after its scheduled adjournment date of May 24, the Illinois General Assembly passed the state budget and concluded the Spring legislative session. Going into an election year with an expected budget deficit, we anticipated that it would be more challenging than usual to pass critical pieces of legislation this session. Despite
2024 Environmental Legislative Update Read More »
Today is the scheduled adjournment day of the regular legislative session. However, as of this morning, it became clear that leading members of the House and Senate are planning for state budget-centered discussions to carry on this evening and into the weekend. We are also seeing an increase in internal caucus meetings, which are causing
2024 Environmental Legislative Update Read More »
Over the past few years, Illinois has seen plastic waste reduction legislative victories in Springfield. Advocates in its largest city, Chicago, seek to implement similar legislation to protect Lake Michigan and other water resources from dangerous microplastic pollution.
Plastic Pollution in Chicago Read More »
Register using the Google form below Loading… Click here if form fails to load.
2024 Zero Waste Lobby Day Read More »
As global plastic treaty negotiations conclude, stakeholders from the Alliance for the Great Lakes, Ocean Conservancy, and Illinois Environmental Council celebrate local action on plastic pollution in Illinois, look to continue momentum.
IL Environmental Council has tips on how to spot greenwashing More and more people want to be good stewards of the earth by being green and more sustainable. But despite their best efforts to research and stay informed, it’s easy to fall victim to something called greenwashing. “It’s essentially a marketing ploy by corporations and
Greenwashing: Avoid falling victim to misleading marketing claims of eco-friendliness Read More »
Several pieces of environmental legislation are making their way through the Illinois General Assembly on what was scheduled to be the final week of the spring legislative session. The proposals range from shifting the state’s procurement requirements to a measure aimed at improving soil health on Illinois farms. But environmental advocates gave mixed reviews on
SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois General Assembly passed legislation this week to reduce plastic pollution and promote access to clean drinking water. Once signed by Governor Pritzker, SB1715 will require that, in settings where the plumbing code already calls for drinking fountains, the installation of new drinking fountains must include a water bottle filling station.
Springfield, IL. — More than 400 Illinoisans mobilized today to urge their representatives in the Illinois General Assembly to pass bills that protect the environment and address climate injustices impacting historically marginalized communities across Illinois. At a rally outside of the Capitol Building and during meetings with legislators, advocates and activists called for the legislature
Illinois needs to break up with plastic. For decades, we’ve known that single-use plastic items, including polystyrene foam cups, plates, and containers are among the most common and harmful forms of pollution found in the environment. So, what are Illinois’ plans to eliminate outdated foam foodware?
Breaking Free from Foam: How Illinois and Chicago Can Reduce Plastic Waste Read More »
More than 20 million pounds of plastic debris enter the Great Lakes every year, half of which winds up in Lake Michigan. To cut off at least a portion of that flow at its source, legislators in Illinois are moving toward a ban on plastic foam cups, containers and utensils. On Tuesday, the Illinois House of Representatives
Ban on Plastic Foam To-Go Containers and Utensils Passes Illinois House Read More »
Tuesday, November 22 | 6-7:30 pm | Register via Zoom using the form below IEC is hosting a series of three town halls for our supporters. At the Clean Water and Waste Town Hall, participants will hear from IEC and our partners on the most pressing issues facing Illinois and our current advocacy plans. We’re
Water and Waste Town Hall Read More »
Gov. J.B. Pritzker quietly signed a bill last week banning single-use plastic in hundreds of state parks and natural areas. Most single-use plastic is neither biodegradable nor recyclable. When offered in state parks, it often creates piles of trash in places that are supposed to be protected. Starting in 2023, the state has to offer either compostable or
Single-use plastic banned from Illinois state parks Read More »
520 E Capitol, Springfield, IL 62701 | Phone: 217-544-5954 | Email: iec@ilenviro.org
© 2025 Illinois Environmental Council
