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4/14/2025
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Rep. McEntee introduces bottle bill
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 STATE HOUSE – Based on recommendations from the Special Joint Legislative Commission to Study and Provide Recommendations to Protect our Environment and Natural Resources from Plastic Bottle Waste, Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee has introduced legislation (2025-H 6207) that would drastically increase recycling rates in Rhode Island, particularly with food and beverage waste. Representative McEntee was a co-chair of the commission.
“The simple truth is that our recycling system is broken and plastic waste is filling up our landfill to capacity and dirtying our streets and neighborhoods. Rhode Island’s recycling rate is a measly 26 percent, and we are polluting our beautiful state at an alarming rate. Something needs to change drastically, and after months of intensive commission meetings, we believe this piece of legislation is what Rhode Island needs to clean up our state and protect our precious environment – all while saving the taxpayers significant dollars,” said Representative McEntee (D-Dist. 33, South Kingstown, Narragansett).
The legislation would implement an extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for statewide recycling of packaging and printed paper and a bottle bill program for beverage containers.
EPR is a policy that helps reduce waste by shifting the cost of recycling from municipalities to producers. Companies are encouraged via the fees they pay to create more sustainable packaging products that are easier to recycle, thus leading to less waste.
The bottle bill program for beverage containers would increase recycling rates for these highly recyclable, but often littered, items by placing a refundable deposit on beverage containers. Consumers can return their empty beverage containers for a refund. These convenient, effective programs are proven to significantly increase recycling rates and improve the quality of recycled materials so they can be recycled or reused.
Tens of thousands of tons of recyclables cannot be accepted and are instead sent to landfill due to contamination, shortening the life span of the Central Landfill and costing taxpayers millions. 29,000 tons of recyclables, enough to fill 895 football fields, from Rhode Island municipalities were rejected and sent to the landfill in 2024. Providence paid $1.14 million in fees last year for its rejected recyclables.
“This bill is good for the environment because it reduces litter and reduces carbon emissions from greater use of recycled material, and it’s good for business since it creates more resilient, domestic supply chains and enables the creation of new products with high quality, recycled material. It’s also good for the taxpayers because it will save municipalities the millions of dollars they are spending every single year collecting recyclables and paying for contaminated loads to be dumped into the landfill,” added Representative McEntee.
The commission, whose focus was on making a comprehensive study on the issues with current practices for recycling of plastic bottles, glass, aluminum, miniature alcoholic beverage containers (i.e., nips), and single-use plastic packaging, held 13 meetings where commission members heard expert testimony from more than 20 expert speakers.
“All of us are sick and tired of seeing our communities littered with drink bottles, liquor nips and other pieces of trash. This waste hurts the well-being of our neighborhoods, our waterways and our open spaces. It also endangers individuals and wildlife with continuous exposure to microplastics and other contaminants. Rhode Island’s recycling status quo is not working - it’s outdated and completely ineffective. It’s long overdue that Rhode Island enters the modern age of waste disposal and reuse, and by combining the proven and successful strategies of EPR and bottle bill programs, we will be protecting our environment, protecting our health and saving the taxpayers millions of dollars,” concluded Representative McEntee.
The bill has been referred to the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee. Sen. Mark McKenney (D-Dist. 30, Warwick) was the other co-chair of the commission and he will be introducing the legislation in the Senate.
Two other bills have been introduced from the work of the commission. Rep. Tina L. Spears (D-Dist. 36, Charlestown, New Shoreham, South Kingstown, Westerly) has introduced legislation (2025-H 6206) that would establish a comprehensive program providing for deposits on, and recycling of, beverage containers. Rep. David A. Bennett (D-Dist. 20, Warwick, Cranston) has introduced a bill (2025-H 6205) that would create extended producer responsibility for packaging and paper program for the recycling of packaging and paper products. Representative McEntee is a cosponsor on both pieces of legislation.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
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