On April 16th, Rhode Island Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee has introduced legislation (2025-H 6207) that would introduce a deposit return system (DRS) for beverage bottles and an extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for packaging and printed paper in the state. Hagan McEntee, a co-chair of the commission, has proposed coupling DRS and EPR with the aim of leading producers to create more sustainable packaging products that are easier to recycle within the state, as well as increase recycling rates for beverage containers that already are highly recyclable but often littered. 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.
BCRC China WeChat Official Account