We did it!! S-2438A / H-7342A School Waste Recycling and Refuse Disposal was signed into law by the Governor last week! This act authorizes schools to use share tables in cafeterias, which along with recycling and composting, helps schools minimize waste, address food insecurity, save money, and help cultivate student awareness and stewardship. Schools and their food service vendors must also report their waste audits to the RI Department of Education, which will post the results on their website, and school cafeteria vendors will be required to purchase at least 10% of their product from a Rhode Island-based food service company. Lastly, RIDE will have to issue Rules and Regulations by January 1, 2027, governing the school districts and vendors and their compliance with this law. Thank you to everyone who took action to get this bill across the finish line. This would not have happened without your support!

The State Budget (H-7127A) included a $55M Green Economy Bond with funding for open space protection, outdoor recreational facility improvements, park development, farmland preservation, habitat restoration, and more. The Bond will need to be approved by the voters; stay tuned for more information as we get closer and I hope you will join us in voting YES for it in November!

Unfortunately, S-3012 / H-7911 Extended Producer Responsibility For Packaging and Paper Act (aka RI Recycling Reform Act) never got out of committee this year. This bill would have created a program that creates deposits on beverage containers and extended producer responsibility for packaging and paper and diverted some of the revenue to education and outreach efforts. These types of programs have been shown to be quite effective in increasing recycling, decreasing waste sent to the landfill, mitigating water pollution, and preventing litter. We’re hopeful that 2027 is the year it finally passes!