Speak Up to Reduce Plastic Pollution in Chicago

You’re invited to join us at a Chicago City Council hearing on environmental and health damage caused by single-use plastics on Wednesday, April 23, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at City Council Chambers, 121 N. LaSalle Street, 2nd Floor. Friends of the Chicago River is proud to help organize this important hearing that will help show broad public support for plastic pollution reduction. Join us in packing the council chamber and making it clear that Chicagoans are ready for change. Sign up now to receive updates and coordinate for the day of the hearing.

The hearing is a joint session of the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy and the Committee on Health and Human Relations. The hearing will feature expert testimony from medical doctors, toxicologists, and ecology researchers. Specialists will present mounting evidence that single-use plastics are harming our health, our water ecosystems, and our city’s future.

Friends of the Chicago River is also working as part of a statewide Coalition for Plastic Reduction to advance legislation that would curb the worst forms of plastic pollution harming our waterways, including plastic bags, and foam foodware. Over 85% of the litter found in the Chicago-Calumet River system is plastic, and more than 85% of that comes from single-use items like food packaging.

We hope to see you there.