SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (IRN)) – Illinois businesses and manufacturers are supporting a new recycling bill, but environmental groups are not.

Environment Illinois director Max Muller says the new plastic bag recycling plan is a farce.

“All of the goals in the bill are just goals, they’re not enforceable,” he says. “It’s a lot of pretty language about striving to achieve 30 percent post recycled content, but there’s no enforcement.”

The bill lists ways bag manufacturers should improve their product, but doesn’t say they must. Muller says a statewide standard will prohibit communities from enacting their own plastic bag recycling programs, and it’s a ruse to prohibit stricter regulations thereby benefiting the manufacturers.

The bill barely passed the House on its second try and now awaits the governor’s signature. Muller says his group will likely encourage a veto.
———————————-

(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Illinois Radio Network contributed to this report.)