DEERFIELD — State Senator Julie Morrison advanced a measure through the Senate to strengthen pollution prevention requirements against plastic pellet runoff and secure clean and healthy waterways for Illinois.
“Our waterways are an important and vital part of our ecosystem – but they cannot thrive with industrial plastic runoff harming aquatic life, water quality and beach health across the Great Lakes,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “It’s time we provide the regulations needed to secure a thriving environment, free from pollution, for neighbors to enjoy for years to come.”
To preserve the environment and ensure thriving, healthy waterways for Illinois, Morrison’s measure would require the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to develop and implement stormwater pollution prevention requirements regarding plastic pellet runoff from industrial facilities regulated under federal EPA standards.
Plastic pellets are a major source of microplastics, which have been discovered in bodies of water and beaches across the globe and have showed up in the digestive tracts of aquatic animals and birds, potentially affecting human health more broadly.
According to a study conducted by the Rochester Institute of Technology, roughly 10 million pounds of plastic pollution enter Lake Michigan alone each year ─ equivalent to 100 Olympic-sized pools full of plastic bottles.
“This is a positive step forward for our environment in preventing continued plastic pollution in our waterways – especially from continued contributors like industrial facilities,” said Morrison.
House Bill 4418 passed the Senate Thursday and now heads to the governor for final approval.
