Plastic Bag Ban Again Approved By Rhode Island Senate

PROVIDENCE, RI — Local lawmakers are again considering a statewide plastic bag ban in Rhode Island. On Thursday, the Senate approved the legislation, long championed by President Dominick Ruggerio.

The proposed has seen some support from lawmakers across previous sessions, though it has yet to reach the governor's desk. In early 2020, it was approved by the full Senate, before the coronavirus pandemic abruptly cut the session short.

If signed into law, the bill would require stores to offer recyclable options instead of single-use plastic bags, penalizing those who do not comply.

"We all know how dangerous plastic pollution is to the health of our oceans and marine life, and how it contributes to climate change," Ruggerio said. "Several Rhode Island jurisdictions have already enacted similar policies to promote and encourage the use of recyclable bags, and I think it’s appropriate to be consistent throughout the state."

Reducing plastic waste has long been an issue in coastal communities like Rhode Island, where plastics can clog waterways and break down into microplastics, which endanger the fishing industry and ecosystems when eaten by fish. The bill also notes that plastic bags and films are the main culprit in contaminated recycling loads in the state.

Also on Thursday, the Senate approved a bill to exempt reusable bags from state sales tax.

If signed into law, the plastic bag ban would go into effect by Jan. 1, 2024 or within one year of the Department of Environmental Management's creation of regulations, whichever comes first.

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives.