June 4th Update: IL SB 3442 bill thinly passed the House and State Senate so it now sits on the Governor's desk for final approval or veto. Ask Governor Quinn to veto this horrible bill by signing our action alert.
When asked about Illinois, not many people think of beaches or surfing but there is a nice stretch of waterfront along Lake Michigan that can be packed with people or pitching up fun little peaks from time to time. The Surfrider Foundation Chicago Chapter has been active for years and is calling out for help on a statewide bill for Illinois that would prevent local cities from pursuing plastic bag bans and establishing very weak industry standards.
SB 3442 by Illinois State Senator Terry Link is currently in the State House after passing out of Senate. Under the guise of a measure to increase plastic bag recycling (by .1%!), the bill prohibits local governments with populations smaller than 2 million (essentially every city but Chicago) from passing a bag ban. Plastic bag recycling has been proven ineffective and cities should be able to maintain local rights for a bag ban if the state is not ready to pursue one.
Take action to help prevent this horrible bill. The bill must be presented to the Governor within 30 days and he must either veto (or amendatory veto) within 60 calendar days of receiving it. If he takes no action, as opposed to either veto or signing then it becomes law automatically.
Click Here to sign our action alert. Call the Governor's office also if you can and ask them to “Please ask Governor Quinn to VETO SB 3442 and pursue more meaningful plastic waste and litter reductions.”
Governor Pat Quinn: governor@illinois.gov (217-782-6830, 312-814-2121)
Lt. Governor Sheila Simon: ltgovernor@illinois.gov (217-558-3085, 312-814-5240)
Kerri Witowski, Legislative Advisor and Policy Analyst: Kerri.Witowski@Illinois.gov