Rhode Island begins second study on bottle bill after two-year delay
A new draft report released in October recommends the same dual approach as a previous commission, despite a decade of similar delays in New England.
By Nia Foster ·
Rhode Island’s General Assembly has initiated a second, separate inquiry into beverage container recycling just two years after a dedicated commission finished its work on the same issue. A draft report released in October by a circular economy consulting firm mirrors the conclusions of the earlier panel, recommending that the state adopt both an extended producer responsibility program and a bottle bill. This follows a 20-month study period for the initial Plastic Bottle Waste Commission, which concluded in April 2025.
The 20-member Plastic Bottle Waste Commission, active from summer 2023 through 2025, held 13 hearings and gathered public testimony. The group included lawmakers, environmental advocates, and industry representatives. In its final 18-page report, the commission stated that the state’s recycling system was failing to keep recyclable packaging out of landfills, streets, and waterways. A large majority of the members advised the General Assembly to pass legislation to improve recycling rates and reduce waste.
Despite this recommendation, the state legislature chose to continue the investigation rather than enact the proposed changes. Three commission members argued that additional study was required regarding the modernization of the existing recycling infrastructure. The General Assembly passed a law in 2025 requiring a statewide study of beverage container redemption, packaging, and recycling programs shortly after shelving the initial commission's findings.
The new draft analysis is currently open for public comment on the Department of Environmental Management website until November 16. The report suggests that combining a bottle bill with extended producer responsibility offers the best path to reducing litter. This mirrors the advice given by the Plastic Bottle Waste Commission, which spent 24 months developing a plan to save space at the Central Landfill.
Rhode Island is one of two New England states without a bottle bill, the other being New Hampshire. Vermont, Maine, Connecticut, and Massachusetts have maintained such legislation since 1972, 1976, 1978, and 1981, respectively. The current proposal faces opposition from major beverage manufacturers and the Rhode Island Liquor Operators Collaborative. The state has previously spent a decade deliberating before banning plastic bags, a process that involved numerous hearings and taxpayer-funded studies.
The delay in adopting a bottle bill continues a pattern of extended legislative review in Rhode Island. The current study phase represents a second formal attempt to resolve the state's recycling challenges. The General Assembly will now review the new draft report as it moves through the standard legislative process for environmental policy.
