Rhode Island Plastic Bag Ban Bill Advances

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island could soon become just the third state in the country to ban plastic bags statewide. The Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture this week approved a bill that would ban single-use, lightweight plastic bags such as those at grocery stores. House lawmakers will soon weigh in and Gov. Gina Raimonda is a strong supporter of a bag ban.

Fines for violating the ban would start at $100. More than a dozen Rhode Island communities already have plastic bag bans. The statewide bill would take precedence.

California in 2016 became the first state to issue a statewide plastic bag ban, followed by New York, which approved a ban in April.

Rhode Island lawmakers are also considering more legislation to reduce plastic waste. One bill would prohibit restaurants from providing plastic straws to customers unless they ask for one; another would ban restaurants from using polystyrene containers. If approved, the bills would take effect in 2020 or 2021.

Rhode Island communities with plastic bag bans

• Barrington
• Bristol
• Jamestown
• Middletown
• Narragansett
• Providence
• New Shoreham
• Newport
• North Kingston
• Portsmouth
• South Kingstown
• Tiverton
• Warren