To the Editor, 

I agree with RI Resource Recovery’s assessment of how to extend the life of the landfill: “Recycling matters” (from “Clock ticking on space at the Central Landfill,” March 6, 2025) That’s why a growing coalition of environmental advocates, industry groups and elected officials support the passage of a “bottle bill” in Rhode Island this year to capture more of the beverage containers that aren’t making it into mixed recycling and keep them out of the landfill. 

Single-use beverage containers are often consumed on the go, not at home, so many of these bottles end up in public trash cans or, even worse, tossed on the ground. States with bottle bills have higher rates of recycling because they have more convenient options for returning bottles and because the bottles are collected separately from potentially contaminated mixed recycling loads. 

A March poll of Rhode Island registered voters showed that 73% are concerned that the landfill is nearing capacity, and a clear majority support passage of a bottle bill. Over the last year and a half, a legislative study commission has met to examine the problem of beverage container litter and waste and learn how other states manage their successful bottle bill programs. The answer is clear: a Rhode Island bottle bill will improve recycling in the Ocean State and help extend the life of the landfill.  

Emily Howe 

Warwick

Clean Water Action RI Director