Senate advances bill to reduce single-use plastic in hotels

Taking a stand for environmental sustainability in the hospitality sector, State Senator Laura Fine has steered legislation through the Senate aimed at phasing out the use of small, single-use plastic bottles in hotels across Illinois.

Under the proposed Small Single-Use Plastic Bottle Act, hotels in Illinois with 50 rooms or more would be prohibited from providing single-use plastic bottles containing personal care products for overnight guests and in public restrooms starting from July 1, 2025. For smaller hotels with less than 50 rooms, the law would come into effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

The bill, which gained approval from the Senate on Wednesday April 10, now advances to the House for further deliberation.

Fine said: This bill reflects a partnership between the hotel industry and environmental groups. This legislation has the potential to drastically reduce plastic waste in Illinois. We need to take the steps that we can now to prevent our state from adding to the rise in plastic pollution nationwide and help people to be more mindful of the daily waste attributed to single-use plastic.