Statewide Plastic Bag Ban Garners Senate's Unanimous Approval

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The statewide ban on single-use plastics in Rhode Island has received approval by the Senate. The legislation to this effect was passed unanimously by the Senate on Wednesday. It is considered to be more comprehensive than the similar legislation introduced last year.

As per the legislation, single-use plastic bags will be banned at grocery stores, restaurants and other retail establishments. There are certain exemptions such as bags used by customers inside a business to package loose items and bags used to contain or wrap frozen foods, meat or fish, flowers or potted plants. Newspaper bags and bags sold in packages are also excluded from the ban.

Several environmental groups welcomed the passage of the bill by the Senate, citing that it would help in keeping Rhode Island’s lands and waters free from the toxic litter.

It must be noted that over a dozen of cities and towns have already implemented local ban on use of single-use plastics. The proposed legislation will help all the cities and towns in the state to fall under uniform guidelines, thereby avoiding confusions created by specific rules by local administrations. Meantime, passage of the bill in the House this year is yet to be confirmed.

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