Rhode Island Environmental Groups Praise New Legislation Tackling Litter & Plastic Waste
Two Bills Establishing a “Bottle Bill” Introduced Today in RI General Assembly
Today, four of the state’s largest environmental organizations – Save the Bay, Clean Water Action, Audubon Society of Rhode Island, and Just Zero – praised the introduction of two bills that would fight waste and litter by establishing a Rhode Island “bottle bill.” House Bill 6206 (Rep. Spears) would create a bottle deposit return system for Rhode Island (a “bottle bill”), and House Bill 6207 (Rep. McEntee) would create a bottle return system as well as an extended producer responsibility program to incentivize major brands to develop product packaging that is easier to recycle.
“Over the last 18 months, our organizations have participated in a bipartisan study commission alongside elected officials and other stakeholders. The study commission brought in experts from across the country, examined our state’s recycling and waste systems, and listened to local business owners. We studied recycling systems in states with bottle bills and worked to develop a plan for Rhode Island. It is now clearer than ever that bottle bills both reduce litter and improve recycling, and the bills introduced today are the result of this careful, deliberative process,” they said, jointly.
A 20-member Special Joint Legislative Commission to Study and Provide Recommendations to Protect our Environment and Natural Resources from Plastic Bottle Waste met 13 times over the past 18 months. The Final Report of the Commission was posted this week and recommends that the General Assembly adopt a deposit return system for beverage containers, as well as a broader producer responsibility system for other forms of packaging. Ten U.S. states – including neighboring states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Vermont and Maine – have had ‘bottle bill’ systems for decades.
“I’ve introduced a bottle bill for several years, and this is the best version yet,” said Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee, Commission Co-Chair and sponsor of H6207. “We listened closely to all of the interested parties and worked hard to write a bill that takes their concerns into consideration and creates something that will both reduce litter and improve recycling, with zero cost to taxpayers.” Under the proposed legislation, all costs for operating the bottle deposit and packaging systems would be borne by a nonprofit producer responsibility organization.
“This is not your grandfather’s bottle bill”, noted Sen. Mark McKenney, who co-chaired the study commission. “In studying the problem diligently, the Commission learned of the latest and best practices – around our nation and the world. People are angry about pollution, and angry about how little of their present recycling actually results in a new product. We have solutions. It’s time to get this done.”
“Beverage containers are among the most collected items during shoreline cleanups, and microplastic pollution is a growing problem in Narragansett Bay,” said Jed Thorp, Director of Advocacy at Save The Bay. “While there are many things we can do to improve recycling, a bottle bill is the only proven policy to get beverage container pollution out of the environment.”
“The study commission process made clear that bottle bills work, and that they can be designed to prioritize convenience, environmental protection, and affordability,” said Kevin Budris, Deputy Director of Just Zero. “We’re excited that the General Assembly will now be considering two pieces of legislation that would implement the best possible bottle bill for Rhode Islanders and our environment. Whether in combination with a strong extended producer responsibility for packaging program, or on its own, a bottle bill is the real solution to prevent plastic pollution.”
“Bottle bills are not only the right policy choice – they are extremely popular. A poll in Rhode Island this winter showed support for a bottle bill by a 27% margin. Over the last three years, Clean Water Action organizers have knocked on doors and called and emailed residents, and people get it. We have a litter problem and a landfill space problem, and a bottle bill addresses both,” said Emily Howe, Clean Water Action’s Rhode Island Director.
A broad coalition of environmental advocates, consumer brands, material manufacturers, packaging suppliers, and trade associations has coalesced around passage of House Bill 6207.
Final Report: Special Joint Legislative Commission to Study & Provide Recommendations to Protect our Environment & Natural Resources from Plastic Bottle Waste
04-08-2025-Final-Report-Bottle-Bill-Commission-PDF-w-signatures
Legislation: 2025 H6206 – An Act Relating to Health & Safety – Beverage Containers Recycling Act
2025 H6206
Legislation: 2025 H6207 – An Act Relating to Health & Safety
2025 H6207
