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Illinois companies would still be allowed to manufacture and
sell the products, but only to parties out of state. The law
would exclude egg cartons.
The bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, said the
products contain carcinogens that can cause severe illnesses.
“This is our time to stand up to make sure that we have a
cleaner, safer place for our children and our grandchildren,”
said Fine.
Fine noted that polystyrene is already banned throughout the
European Union and 11 U.S. states.
Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, said Illinois
businesses have plenty of time to adjust to the ban.
“This is a pro-business bill with the support of the restaurants
and the retail merchants who are the most directly impacted,”
said Harmon. “It’s a five year phase-in.”
Republican lawmakers criticized the negative impact the
legislation could have on jobs and small businesses in Illinois,
including state Sen. Liandro Arrelano, R-Dixon.
“I think we need to understand that regulations and mandates
have different impacts in different rungs of society and where
they hit the hardest is on those without legal departments and
on those without the kind of resources it takes to resource
their product lines,” said Arrelano.
Some labor unions, including the Illinois Pipe Trades
Association and AFL-CIO, oppose the legislation, which passed
the Senate and is headed to the House for consideration. |
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