Chloe Zhang
Illinois has a long history of waste reduction programs, including recycling and composting, but the state still has a long way to go in terms of reducing plastic waste. While Illinois has the fifth-largest Gross Domestic Product by state and is the sixth-most populous, it generates approximately 19 million tons of garbage a year, of which only 37% is recycled. Single-use plastics, such as polystyrene foam cups, plates, and containers, are among the most common and harmful forms of pollution. While Illinois has no bottle bill requiring a deposit on the consumer purchase of beverages in cans or bottles, it does have laws in place to ban certain items from landfills, such as tires, used oil, white goods, landscape waste, and electronics.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic Recycling in Illinois | Possible through scrap plastic buyers like Chesapeake and scrapmanagement.com |
| Plastic Scrap Buyers in Illinois | Chicago, Aurora, and Joliet |
| Illinois's Plans to Eliminate Outdated Foam Foodware | Prohibiting retail establishments and restaurants from selling or distributing polystyrene foodware |
| Illinois's Waste Generation | 19 million tons of garbage per year |
| Percentage of Waste Recycled | 37% |
| Illinois's Landfills | 42 |
| Illinois's Statewide Landfill Life Expectancy | 21 years |
| Illinois's Population | 6th-most populous U.S. state |
| Illinois's Waste Reduction Programs | Recycling and composting programs |
| Illinois Bans from Landfills | Tires, used oil, white goods, landscape waste, electronics, and partially bans asphalt roofing shingles |
| Illinois's Recycling Goal | 25% from counties |
| Illinois's Bottle Bill | No "bottle bill" requiring a deposit on the consumer purchase of beverages in cans or bottles with a return on deposit when recycled |
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What You'll Learn
Illinois's plastic waste problem
Illinois has a serious plastic waste problem. The state generates approximately 19 million tons of garbage a year, 23% more waste per capita than the average US state. Unfortunately, only 37% of this waste is recycled, with over 91% of plastic and almost all polystyrene foam ending up in landfills. This is a significant issue, as polystyrene foam is one of the worst types of plastic for the environment. It is costly and inefficient to recycle, non-biodegradable, harmful to human health and wildlife, and can take hundreds of years to break down.
Single-use plastic items, such as polystyrene foam cups, plates, and containers, plastic bags, straws, utensils, bottles, and packaging, are among the most common and harmful forms of pollution in Illinois. The state's high waste generation and low recycling rates have led to a landfill crisis, with only 21 years of landfill life expectancy remaining.
To address this problem, Illinois has a long history of implementing waste reduction programs, including recycling and composting initiatives. For example, the state bans certain items from landfills, such as tires, used oil, white goods (e.g., refrigerators and air conditioners), landscape waste, and electronics. Additionally, Illinois has set a state goal for recycling of 25% for counties.
However, Illinois still needs better recycling and composting programs that are easily accessible to consumers. There is also a need for legislation to hold the marketplace accountable for providing sustainable products and reducing the use of single-use plastics. The Illinois Environmental Council and other organizations are advocating for such changes, and some progress has been made, with legislation introduced to reduce the use of plastic foam cups and containers.
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The state's efforts to reduce plastic waste
Illinois has a long history of waste reduction programs, including recycling and composting programs, but it still has a long way to go in terms of reducing plastic waste. The state has recognized plastic, especially single-use plastic, as one of the most common and harmful forms of pollution.
Illinois has implemented several measures to tackle this issue. The state has banned tires, used oil, white goods (such as refrigerators and air conditioners), landscape waste, and
Illinois has also focused on reducing food waste. The 2016 bill HB5530 allows food donations from schools and government-operated facilities, preventing edible food from ending up in landfills. Furthermore, the state has supported legislation to reduce the use of plastic foam cups and containers. The proposed HB2376/SB100, if passed, would prohibit retail establishments and restaurants from selling or distributing polystyrene foodware from January 2024. This aligns with efforts in other states, such as Maine, Maryland, and New York, which have already enacted bans on polystyrene foam containers.
While Illinois has made strides in waste reduction and recycling, there is a continued emphasis on improving recycling and composting programs. The state aims to increase its recycling rate, as currently, only about 37% of its waste is recycled. Illinois also recognizes the need for better programs that are easily accessible to consumers, reducing the burden on individuals and holding the marketplace accountable for providing sustainable products.
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The recyclability of different plastics
While plastic is bad for the environment, recycling it can conserve limited natural resources and energy. However, plastic does not suit all eco-friendly disposal solutions, and not all plastic is widely recyclable. For instance, burning plastics releases harmful gases, and polystyrene foam, which is among the worst plastic, is costly, inefficient to recycle, and not biodegradable.
In principle, almost all plastic can be recycled. However, in practice, there are a variety of different barriers that can undermine this process. For example, items that include multiple types of plastic and different layers are hard to separate and make recyclability difficult and costly. Similarly, plastic waste can often be contaminated by food and other substances, making the resins not clean enough to be reused.
The most widely recycled plastic in the world is PET, which is relatively easy to recycle. PET bottles can be recycled into new bottles, and this process can be repeated. Alternatively, PET can be recycled into fashion items like polar fleece clothes, backpacks, and carpets. This involves transforming PET into flakes, which can then be spun as yarn.
HDPE is one of the easiest plastic polymers to recycle and is accepted at most recycling centers worldwide. The majority of recycled plastic comes from post-consumer sources, such as milk jugs, bottles, and packaging films. These materials can be recycled into new products like shampoo bottles, cosmetic caps, and packaging films.
In the United States, consumers are encouraged to responsibly recycle plastic containers by looking for the recycling chasing arrows symbol with numbers #1-#7. However, this symbol was created to communicate the type of plastic used in an item's construction rather than recyclability. The numbers inside the triangle do not indicate recyclability, and several factors affect a plastic's recyclability, including its type, ability to be effectively recovered, and the existence of markets for specific plastic types.
Despite these challenges, some organizations accept specific types of plastic for recycling. For example, Recycle Ann Arbor accepts #1, #2, and #5 plastic bottles, jars, jugs, and tubs, while #3, #4, #6, and #7 plastics are not accepted as they are highly toxic and difficult to recover.
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The state's waste reduction programs
Illinois has a long history of championing recycling and waste reduction programs, but it still has a long way to go. The state generates approximately 19 million tons of garbage a year, which is 23% more waste per capita than the average US state. Only 37% of this waste is recycled, and Illinois lags behind other states in diverting food scraps from the waste stream.
The Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) is working to reduce plastic waste in the state, particularly polystyrene foam, which is costly, inefficient to recycle, and harmful to human health and wildlife. IEC, along with the Illinois Coalition for Plastic Reduction, supports legislation introduced by State Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz and State Senator Laura Fine to reduce the use of plastic foam cups and containers. If passed, the legislation would prohibit retail establishments and restaurants from selling or distributing polystyrene foodware from January 2024.
Illinois has also banned tires, used oil, white goods (such as refrigerators and air conditioners), landscape waste, electronics, and partially banned asphalt roofing shingles from landfills. The state goal for recycling is 25% from counties. Illinois has no "bottle bill," which would require a deposit on beverage containers that would be returned when recycled. However, the Task Force on the Advancement of Recyclable Materials was created in 2012 to bring stakeholders together, and the 2016 bill HB5530 was passed to allow food donations from schools and government facilities to prevent food waste.
Recycling in Illinois has significant environmental benefits, reducing water pollution by 21,500 tons and air pollution by 131,000 tons of contaminants annually. It also creates jobs and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The Solid Waste Management Fund, established in 1986, set the first state goal of discouraging landfill use, and the Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act, passed in 1988, encouraged long-range planning. The Illinois Recycling Foundation (IRF) is actively involved in discussions about the state's environmental future, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation and organics recycling programs.
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The state's plastic scrap market
Illinois is taking steps to address the problem of plastic waste, which includes polystyrene foam cups, plates, containers, plastic bags, straws, utensils, bottles, and packaging. While recycling efforts are part of the solution, the state also recognises the need to reduce the use of disposable plastic items.
Other companies contributing to the plastic scrap market in Illinois include M. Holland, an international distributor of thermoplastic resin, and Mid America, which provides expertise and industry connections to help manage plastic scrap more efficiently. Silgan Plastics is also mentioned as a company that offers technical innovation and creative packaging solutions for the plastic bottling industry.
The Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) and the Illinois Coalition for Plastic Reduction are actively supporting legislation to reduce plastic waste. A proposed bill, HB2376/SB100, aims to prohibit retail establishments and restaurants from selling or distributing polystyrene foodware starting in January 2024. This aligns with efforts in other states and municipalities that have already enacted bans on polystyrene foam containers.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Illinois does recycle plastic. However, it is noted that Illinois needs better recycling programs that are easily accessible to consumers.
Clean plastic items such as bottles, jars, and jugs are almost always recyclable. Plastic bags are not recyclable, but they can be returned to grocery stores, which will then send them to facilities that recycle them into plastic lumber.
Illinois has a long history of waste reduction programs, and other materials that can be recycled include glass, metal, aluminium, steel, and tin cans. Electronics are also recycled, with manufacturers required to collect and recycle or reuse electronic waste.
Illinois has the 5th largest Gross Domestic Product and is the 6th most populous state in the US. It generates approximately 19 million tons of garbage a year, of which only 37% is recycled. Less than 1% of polystyrene foam, a common form of plastic pollution, is recycled.
