SUPPORT a RI Producer Responsibility Program!
The Surfrider Foundation Rhode Island Chapter worked with our Northeast Regional Manager in an effort to support the passage of S 2605 | H 7896, a RI state-based bill that would have established a producer responsibility program for printed paper and other packaging.
The bill would have minimized the impact of plastic pollution and require producers to achieve a 75% recycling rate for all packaging in designated classes within 2 years from the enactment. It was aimed at improving the accountability of manufacturers to reduce and recover/recycle printed paper and plastic products used for packaging.
Plastics and packaging materials can be very wasteful and are easily littered. Once they enter our water, they leach toxic chemicals and wreak havoc on the ecosystem. Requiring producers to be responsible for their packaging decisions from the outset at the point of manufacture and through beyond the point of sale to recovery is a key element of this paradigm shift toward more eco-friendly packaging. We hope you will join us in supporting this bill!
BILL PROGRESS:
The bill was Introduced and referred to Senate Environment and Agriculture on 02/25/2016, and is scheduled for public hearing on Thursday, March 17, and then rescheduled for March 24.
Unfortunately, at the March 24 hearing the committee recommended that this measure be held for further study, which essentially means it is no longer being considered for passage.
For more information please stay tuned to this campaign page or LIKE and visit our Surfrider Foundation Rhode Island Chapter Facebook page for more information.
The best way to support our work is to become a member of the Surfrider Foundation. To get more directly involved in our efforts in Rhode Island, please give a shout at ri@surfrider.org.
Questions…? Please message our Northeast Regional Manager at mgates@surfrider.org.
Thank you!