Rhode Island General Laws Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-18.11-1. Paper bag incentive

(a) The general assembly finds that discarded packaging constitutes a significant category of waste within the state's waste system and is, therefore, a necessary focus of any effort to preserve the capacity of the central landfill, as well as to reduce economic and environmental costs of waste management for the citizens of this state.

(b) In furtherance of state source reduction and recycling policies, it is the intent of this legislation to promote the use of paper bags as a preferred alternative to plastic bags.  Paper bags are frequently made from recycled paper fiber, are recyclable and degradable, and minimize the use of non-renewable resources, including natural gas and petroleum.

(c) The general assembly has determined that certain retail establishments within the state are points of origin for a substantial volume of plastic bags and, therefore, are particularly susceptible to actions which have significant potential for simplifying the chemical composition of this portion of the state's waste stream, thereby improving solid waste management within this state.