Illinois hotels will soon phase out small shampoo bottles and other containers for personal care products for guests due to the Small Single-Use Plastic Bottle Act. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed SB2960 on Aug. 9.
As of July 1, 2025, hotels with 50 or more rooms won’t be allowed to offer small, single-use plastic personal care bottles. All hotels will be on the hook come Jan. 1, 2026.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a similar bill in 2023. California and New York have also taken such steps.
Supporters said the Illinois bill is poised to have “ripple effects” to other sectors by spurring a shift from single-use to reusable options. Proponents included Marriott International, the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association and the Illinois Recycling Association. There were no opponents recorded.
“By reducing their footprint and opting for more economical and environmentally-friendly toiletry options, Illinois’ hotel industry will keep thousands of pounds of plastic out of our landfills and waterways over the years,” said state Sen. Laura Fine, a bill sponsor.
“We must keep advancing stronger laws to reduce plastic production, fix the broken recycling system, move manufacturers and retailers toward using less unnecessary plastic, and shift to reusable alternatives,” said Andrea Densham, senior policy advisor for the Alliance for the Great Lakes, in a statement.
The same day, Pritzker also signed a law requiring large facilities to recycle and compost materials generated during events. Those materials including glass, aluminum cans, cardboard, paper and plastic beverage cups or bottles. The requirements for facilities, such as athletic stadiums and convention centers, with a legal occupancy of at least 3,500 people will apply starting Jan. 1, 2025.
