Illinois Must Ditch Foam Food Containers. Here’s What You Can Do To Help.

Whether it was a coffee cup on your morning commute or a takeout box after a late-night meal, chances are you’ve used a foam food container in the last week and tossed it without a second thought. But what happens after you throw it away? 

The answer is troubling. That lightweight container, commonly known by its popular brand name 'Styrofoam', neither disappears nor is it biodegradable. Instead, it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, eventually ending up as microplastics. These tiny polymer fragments then absorb heavy metals and other toxins, becoming a persistent pollutant that leaches into our waterways, threatens wildlife, and even makes its way into our bodies. 

Despite only being used for minutes, foam food containers can persist in our environment for centuries. 

The Chemistry Behind the Crisis

Polystyrene foam is derived from styrene, a volatile organic compound typically used to make lightweight, insulated protective packaging. It is classified as a probable human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Chemically, styrene is a benzene derivative, meaning it is structurally prone to bioaccumulation and resistant to biodegradation.

Put simply, styrene sticks around.

The chemical make-up of polystyrene.

(Left image courtesy of Pexels | Right figure courtesy of IOSR Journal of Polymer and Textile Engineering | Graphic by Arthi Venkatesh)

When exposed to heat, as it often is whether with your hot meal, fresh coffee or reheated leftovers, polystyrene containers release small amounts of unreacted styrene into your food or drink. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services expresses concern about the chronic exposure risks of this chemical, especially in occupational settings or when used in foodware. 

Recent studies have detected microplastics in human blood, lungs and even reproductive tissue. Their full health implications are still being studied, but early research links microplastic exposure to inflammation, endocrine disruption and cellular damage. We’ve learned a lot from the legacy of substances like asbestos and 20th-century pesticides. The verdict? Just because something is common doesn’t mean it’s safe. 

Despite its known risks, polystyrene remains widely used because it’s cheap and convenient. The cost of convenience is far too high.

Phasing Out Foam

This year, Illinois lawmakers had the opportunity to reduce polystyrene use through SB1531, the Disposable Food Service Container Act, sponsored by State Senator Laura Fine (D–09). The bill passed the Senate but was not called to the floor in the House before the end of the spring legislative session. It is expected to return in January. If passed, the act would phase out foam food containers by 2030, giving businesses and institutions nearly six years to transition to safer, more sustainable alternatives. Many of these—like compostable containers made from plant fibers, recycled paper products, and reusable service ware—are already in use and becoming more cost-effective.

Illinois isn’t acting alone. Ten other states, including Maryland, New York and Colorado, have already successfully passed similar or stricter legislation.

Physical weathering of a polystyrene foam cup on the Lake Michigan Shoreline.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Disproportionate Impacts, Disproportionate Responsibility

Polystyrene pollution doesn’t just stay where it’s dumped. It travels on wind and water currents. As with most environmental hazards, it disproportionately affects low-income communities and ecosystems already overburdened by waste, environmental toxins, and inadequate infrastructure. 

This is not just an environmental issue. It’s a question of public health equity. The Disposable Food Service Container Act is a step toward protecting communities that have disproportionately suffered from pollution they didn’t cause, resulting in higher rates of chronic health conditions. Low-income and minority communities in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley face cancer risks nearly double the national average due to toxic emissions from facilities, including the world’s largest polystyrene producer

Polystyrene containers clog storm drains in cities like Chicago, contributing to localized flooding. They litter rural highways and pollute the shoreline of Lake Michigan. They’re consistently among the most commonly collected items at cleanup events. Volunteers spend hours doing what a smarter packaging system could prevent.

Building Momentum

Many colleges and universities, including Northwestern University, have already adopted “Styrofoam Free” initiatives, eliminating polystyrene foam from dining services. College campuses are embracing compostable food containers, reusable dishware, and closed-loop waste systems instead. 

Students support these initiatives, and institutions are proving that food service doesn’t need to rely on toxic, outdated materials. These are not impossible changes. They’re already happening and are possible on a statewide scale. 

What You Can Do

If you care about clean water, public health, or leaving behind a planet less toxic than it is now, it’s not too early to take action. SB1531 was not called to the floor during this session, but it’s expected to return in January. Now is the time to build support.

Contact your state representative and urge them to back this important bill when it comes up again. You can also make a difference locally: choose restaurants that use sustainable packaging, encourage schools and workplaces to phase out foam, and educate others about the risks of polystyrene and the benefits of safer alternatives.

Illinois has the chance to join the growing number of states putting long-term health over short-term convenience. Let’s say goodbye to polystyrene—not just because we can, but because we must.