Efforts to promote recycling in Rhode Island amidst challenges.
Rhode Island’s proposed bottle bill aimed at establishing a refundable deposit system has been shelved this legislative session. House and Senate leaders announced the development of a statewide needs assessment council to create a comprehensive plan for bottle redemption and recycling instead. This decision follows an 18-month study revealing mixed data on effective recycling practices and concerns from business organizations regarding costs. Environmental advocates emphasize the urgency of establishing a structured bottle redemption program to address increasing litter and low recycling rates in the state.
Rhode Island’s bottle bill, which would have established a refundable deposit system on beverage containers, will not advance this legislative session. House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and Senate President Valarie J. Lawson announced on Monday that instead, a new proposal will create a statewide needs assessment council tasked with developing a comprehensive bottle redemption and recycling plan.
The decision comes after an 18-month study by a special legislative commission that examined the challenges and opportunities surrounding bottle redemption and recycling in the state. Despite the study’s findings, conflicting data regarding effective recycling practices and litter reduction prompted legislative leaders to pursue a different approach.
The amended legislation is set to involve the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, which will work alongside an independent third-party consultant to evaluate the best strategies moving forward. A report detailing findings from this assessment is expected to be published by December 2026.
The bottle bill proposal aimed to incorporate a 10-cent refundable deposit on each bottle and can, while also integrating an extended producer responsibility program that would assign manufacturers responsibility for the recycling of their product packaging. This approach had garnered support from various environmental advocates but faced significant opposition.
Major opposition came from the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and other business organizations that expressed concerns over the additional costs such a program could impose on consumers, particularly amid current economic challenges. Industry representatives have been vocal about their preference for enhancing existing recycling infrastructures rather than initiating new financial obligations through a bottle bill.
Support for a bottle bill in Rhode Island has been sporadic since its inception in the early 1980s. In 2023, the push gained momentum, led by lawmakers such as Representative Carol Hagan McEntee and Senator Mark P. McKenney. Despite attempts to advance the bill, its current shelving has left some advocates surprised and disappointed, particularly given the persistent issues of litter and low recycling rates in the state, as highlighted by various studies.
Research has revealed significant concerns about environmental degradation in Rhode Island, particularly relating to microplastics found in Narragansett Bay, which pose threats to marine life and food sources. Current statistics indicate that Rhode Island and New Hampshire are the only two New England states without any refundable bottle system, a fact that some advocates see as an urgent issue needing resolution.
The legislative commission’s findings also pointed to problems with littering and waste accumulation at facilities like the Central Landfill in Rhode Island. While the proposed bottle bill aimed to address these environmental issues directly, public opinion remains divided on the merits of such legislation. Polls indicate concerns amongst the public about potential price increases versus the desire for enhanced environmental protections.
As new legislation moves through the process, the proposal expects to grant businesses the option to opt out of participating in the bottle redemption system. The program would not require state funding, placing the operational responsibilities mainly on producers.
The next steps include further studies on both McKenney’s and Valverde’s proposed bills, while related proposals in the House are yet to be scheduled for hearings. Advocates for a bottle bill continue to emphasize the pressing need for a structured bottle redemption program to combat litter and promote sustainability in Rhode Island.
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