Say NO to a ban on plastic bag bans in Rhode Island!

Each municipality in Rhode Island relies upon local data to solve local problems—hindering that process at the state level is unacceptable.

Plastic pollution is overwhelming. It threatens water quality, human health, beaches and wildlife. It damages recycling equipment. Thousands of volunteers across the state invest their time and energy in cleaning up single-use plastics, and our municipalities should continue to have the right to decide if and how to address this problem!

That's why we acted promptly to oppose H5946 - a bill written by and for plastics manufacturers who pushed an amendment in the final days of this session that would BAN PLASTIC BAG BANS at the local level and RESCIND the three municipal ordinances on record to date. This was an underhanded maneuver aimed at taking local rights away from Rhode Islanders…and our lawmakers saw it for what it was.

Thanks to all who joined the Surfrider Foundation Rhode Island Chapter & our friends at Upstream and Clean Water Action Rhode Island in saying NO to H5946! Because of our chorus of voices speaking out against this effort, we prevailed! 

#BreakFreeFromPlastic

Questions…? Please message our Northeast Regional Manager at mgates@surfrider.org. You can also join or renew your Surfrider Foundation membership to help support our important work! 

Thank you!