The Illinois Senate has passed a landmark environmental bill that will ban the sale and distribution of disposable food service containers made from polystyrene foam, commonly known as Styrofoam, across the state starting in 2030.

Senate Bill 1531, known as the Disposable Food Service Container Act, prohibits any person from selling or distributing disposable food service containers composed wholly or partly of polystyrene foam in Illinois after January 1, 2030. This includes schools. The bill includes specific exemptions for activities authorized by local ordinances adopted before January 1, 2024, and for sales to local governments for their internal operations.

Violators of the new law will face penalties, and the bill also limits the powers of home rule units to regulate these materials independently.

Polystyrene foam is widely used in takeout food packaging due to its low cost and insulating properties. However, it has been targeted by environmental advocates because it does not biodegrade, often ends up as litter in waterways, and contains styrene, a chemical classified as a carcinogen and linked to various health risks, including nervous system damage, vision and hearing loss, and cancer.

The new statewide ban builds on earlier legislation passed in 2023, which prohibited state agencies and universities from purchasing or using polystyrene products by January 1, 2025. The expanded ban will now extend to restaurants, retailers, and other businesses throughout Illinois.

The bill passed the Senate with strong Democratic support and now moves to the Illinois House for consideration.

If enacted, Illinois will join a growing list of states and cities across the country that have moved to phase out polystyrene foam foodware in favor of more sustainable alternatives.