the rhode island transportation coalition for transportation choices
2012 priorities
Invest to Improve Roads, Bridges and Sidewalks to Maximize Positive Impacts:
rhode island law requires tv and computer manufacturers to recycle
In 2008, the RI General Assembly passed the Electronic Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling Act (S2631, H7880) into law. The new law sponsored by Sen. Sosnowski (D-South Kingstown) and Rep. Handy (D-Cranston) requires electronics manufacturers to pay for the collection and recycling of old computers and televisions.
The Johnston Landfill is estimated to reach capacity in 24 years, and our current waste management system is simply unsustainable.
We need more products to be recycled and taken out of the waste stream, but we can't leave that burden solely to Rhode island cities and towns. We need manufacturers to be engaged in taking back their products, and to create green jobs by recycling them into new products.
rhode island
Trash Incineration Pushed to the Back Burner Again
making manufacturers take out the trash!
Americans generate a lot of trash — some would say, much more than their “fair share.” Many people feel that each individual should be responsible for reducing their own waste, perhaps along with the local community recycling program. The reality is that cities and towns have ended up bearing most of the responsibility — and the costs — for figuring out ways to reduce waste and make recycling programs work. Over the past ten years, however, new policies challenging this conventional approach have started gaining traction.
The Barrasso/Heller Amendment to the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 2354) is bad news. It would permanently bar the Army Corps of Engineers from restoring longstanding Clean Water Act protections to water bodies throughout the country. This undermines the common-sense protections that Americans expect to ensure clean water for drinking, swimming and fishing. We have to stop it - and we will.
Wetlands and streams are a vital part of our water system. They feed into and clean rivers and lakes throughout the country. The Mississippi and Colorado rivers, San Francisco and Chesapeake Bays and every other body of water relies on small streams and wetlands across the United States. Wetlands also provide vital flood protection for cities, towns, and farmland - an acre of wetland can hold nearly 1 million gallons of floodwaters.
fighting for water on the hill
The Clean Water Act brought Lake Erie back to life, cleaned up rivers like the Cuyahoga and the Potamac, and made drinking water safe for nearly all Americans - we're not done yet. It's been 39 years since the Congress first passed the Clean Water Act. We were making steady progess until nine years ago.
Help us stop the Senate from passing the dirty water amendment today!
NEWPORT-On Wednesday, October 12th, the Newport City Council passed a resolution in support of Framework Producer Responsibility, making it the 13th municipality in Rhode Island to do so. Justin McLaughlin, Naomi Neville, Jeanne-Marie Napolitano, and Charles Duncan were co-sponsors on the resolution.
Newport Energy and Environment Commission members with CWA Organizer, Ellie Leonardsmith
Producer Responsibility is a new waste management system in which producers are involved in the end-of-life management of their products. Ellie Leonardsmith, Community Organizer from the non-profit Clean Water Action, said, "This model gives the producers an incentive to make products that are less toxic, more durable, and more recyclable in the first place."