Litter is a persistent problem in the Chicago-Calumet River system. Tim Hoellein of Loyola University collects data on waterway pollution, and finds that the overwhelming majority of litter in the Chicago River system consists of plastic and polystyerene foam (which is a type of plastic).

Our policy work at the local, state, and federal levels seeks solutions to eliminating single-use plastic items. This includes serving on the Coalition for Plastic Reduction (CPR).

Polystyrene foam is considered the worst form of plastic pollution. In August 2023, the Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed the State Entities Single-Use Plastic Reporting Act, which will phase out the use of single-use foam foodware for state agencies starting January 2025 and for vendors of state agencies starting January 2026. The law also requires state agencies to track and implement goals to reduce single-use plastic disposable foodware beginning in July 2024. 

In 2022, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed a bill banning single-use plastics in state parks and natural areas which took effect in 2023. State parks are now required to offer either compostable or recyclable foodware. 

In addition to these efforts, Friends and the Coalition for Plastic Reduction have been working on a broader bill to ban foam food containers across the state and will continue this support.