GUEST OPINION

It’s time for RI to lead on recycling reform

By MARK P. McKENNEY
Posted 5/22/25

Every week, Rhode Islanders dutifully roll their recycling bins out to the curb, believing they are doing their part to help the environment by recycling paper, aluminum cans, and glass and plastic …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in
GUEST OPINION

It’s time for RI to lead on recycling reform

Posted

Every week, Rhode Islanders dutifully roll their recycling bins out to the curb, believing they are doing their part to help the environment by recycling paper, aluminum cans, and glass and plastic bottles. But the truth is: our recycling system is failing us. Rhode Island’s statewide recycling rate is a shockingly low 26%. How can this be, when so many of us are trying to do the right thing?

What this means is that most recyclable material – cans, bottles, glass, and plastic – is instead buried in the Central Landfill (expected to reach capacity in less than 20 years). Frustratingly, municipalities pay ~$16 million annually to pick up recyclables, and a lot of those collected recyclables go straight to the landfill. That’s millions of taxpayer dollars for an underperforming recycling system.

Talk about buried treasure. More like a bottomless pit.

And, of course, what doesn’t make it to the landfill often goes into our roadways and rivers and Narragansett Bay. And it breaks down. A URI study last year estimated that the top 2 inches of Bay soil contains over 1,000 tons of microplastics. When we eat our local fish and swim in our Bay, we are likely ingesting those microplastics. That’s not good.

The General Assembly spent two years studying our recycling system. In partnership with Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee, I co-chaired a special legislative commission that held public hearings, heard from experts and other witnesses and examined evidence. The commission’s work culminated in a comprehensive plan, and I’m proud that we are now moving forward with two bold bills that address the systematic challenges we face. If we enact these measures, we will modernize and reform our recycling program and make Rhode Island a national leader.

House bill 6207 and Senate bill 996 do two critical things:

Hold producers accountable for the packages and products they put out, shifting the burden and responsibility of recycling from cities and towns to the companies and corporations that produce them. The producers will pay for the program and run the program – collecting and processing these materials. Municipalities will no longer have to pay for that. Taxpayers and towns will save money. The corporations will pay their fair share for the waste they help create.

Implement a 10-cent, fully refundable deposit on beverage containers. Evidence has shown that a nickel per container doesn’t do the job – but a 10-cent deposit works. We’ve all heard of “cash for clunkers.” These bills would give you “cash for containers!” The system is convenient, and consumers get all the money back when containers are returned. It is a financial incentive to protect the environment. This modern “Bottle Bill” system has been proven to boost recycling rates to over 90%.

The General Assembly has the perfect opportunity to act. Rhode Island can choose to remain stuck in the past, paying for an expensive curbside recycling system that doesn’t work, and harms our economy and environment … or we can lead the nation in recycling reform.

[Opponents of commonsense recycling reforms argue that the bills are too costly or complicated. But they offer no solutions in response. Their positions are little more than the same tired arguments heard before. They ignore the fact that what’s being proposed is vastly different from old-style bottle bills, or even the systems in Massachusetts and Connecticut. This is “Not Your Grandfather’s Bottle Bill.”

Modern “recycling refund” and enhanced producer accountability systems have both been proven to work. States with these systems (i.e. Oregon, Maine) have seen recycling rates soar, and their communities benefit from a cleaner environment, reduced litter, less pollution and greater economic growth.]

Rhode Island, we face a choice.

We can “kick the can down the road” again, and let our children and grandchildren deal with the problem, or we can tackle it head-on. In my view, we cannot afford to wait. The future of our economy, our environment and our children’s future is at stake.

It’s time for Rhode Island to act. Ask your senator and representative to pass H 6207 and S 996 – not just as a matter of good policy, but as a matter of responsibility.  Let’s show the nation what it looks like when the Ocean State steps up to lead on sustainability. Let’s be bold, let’s be ambitious, and let’s give Rhode Island the recycling system it deserves.

State Sen. Mark PMcKenney represents Senate District 30, covering much of the southern half of
Warwick.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here