Pritzker could enact law limiting Illinois hotels from using single-use plastics

[June 28, 2024]  By Catrina Petersen | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker could soon sign a measure saying hotels with less than 50 rooms can't provide single use plastic bottles containing things like shampoo.

Opponents say Senate Bill 2960 targets small business owners and puts unnecessary mandates on them. Proponents argue the measure protects the environment. State Rep. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, sponsored the measure in the Senate.

“Plastic is one of the top sources of pollution in our country,” said Fine. “According to conservation.org, 26 billion pounds of plastic are dumped into our oceans every year. At this rate by 2050, plastic will outweigh fish in the ocean. This bill is part of the solution.”

State Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, said enforcing the ban will utilize precious law enforcement resources that are already stretched thin because of the the Pretrial Fairness Act, which ended cash bail statewide.

“It’s an extra burden on the state's attorney's offices right now as they deal with the SAFE-T act,” said McClure. “Whether you support the SAFE-T act or not, it’s undeniable that it’s causing issues with staffing and issues with the burden that prosecutors have to meet every single day in courtrooms. They do not have the resources to police each hotel to ensure they aren’t using single use plastic bottles.”

If a hotel is caught using single use plastic, they will be issued a written warning. Upon a second offense, they will be fined up to $500.

McClure questioned if the hotels are on board with this legislation, then why not just do it instead of installing a statewide ban.

“Hotel owners want to give the excuse, when they have guests staying in their establishments that, ‘Oh they can’t provide this sanitary single use bottle and it’s not in your room because the state of Illinois came down and are forcing us to comply with another mandate,'” said McClure. “If they’re in favor of it, then do it. But don’t use the state of Illinois as an excuse as to why someone’s trip to our state is a little bit worse because they go to a shower and whatever is supplied is not adequate for them because of this legislation.”

State Rep. Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis, asked about the penalties hotels will face if they’re caught with single use plastics. State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, fielded his questions on the House floor.

“A hotel is liable for a written warning for the first violation and a hotel is liable for a $500 fine for the second and subsequent violations,” said Buckner. “A state’s attorney or municipal attorney can bring action in a circuit court requesting a civil penalty if necessary.”

Buckner explained how a state’s attorney would have jurisdiction over the municipal attorney, but the state’s attorney can waive their right and give jurisdiction to the municipal attorney. The House voted 73 in support and 40 against. The Senate voted 42 in support and 17 against.