Rhode Island's Plastic Waste: A Recycling Crisis

Rhode Island has a complex system for sorting plastics and other recyclable materials, but a large amount of plastic still ends up in the landfill. In FY22, only 27% of the estimated total weight of recyclable plastics in Rhode Island was recycled, with 73% going to the landfill. This is due in part to contamination by non-recyclable materials, such as plastic bags, propane tanks, and televisions, as well as the difficulty of finding buyers for recycled materials. The state has implemented standardized labels and public education campaigns to increase recycling rates and decrease contamination, but the problem of plastic waste persists.

Rhode Island's plastic recycling programs

Rhode Island has three main plastic recycling programs. The first and most well-known is the mixed recycling program, which accepts plastic containers up to 5 gallons in size, including bottles, jugs, jars, tubs, cups, and clamshells. Foam containers and containers that previously held flammable or oily chemicals are not accepted. The second program is a special drop-off program for plastic bags and films that are clean, dry, and stretchy. The third program, which is less known, involves dropping off bulky, rigid plastics at specific locations or private recyclers.

In addition to these three main programs, Rhode Island offers several other ways to recycle plastic and other materials. For example, the state has a PaintCare program that accepts latex and oil-based paints, and mattresses and box springs can be recycled if they are kept dry. Clothing and textiles can be recycled by placing dry items in a plastic bag and dropping them off at designated locations, such as Kiducation or Goodwill boxes.

Despite these comprehensive recycling programs, Rhode Island still faces challenges in terms of plastic recycling. In Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22), only 27% of the estimated total weight of recyclable plastics in the state was recycled, while 73% ended up in landfills. This low recycling rate can be attributed to various factors, including contamination, improper recycling practices, and difficulties in finding buyers for recycled materials.

To address these issues, Rhode Island has implemented initiatives such as standardized labels to improve recycling practices and reduce contamination. The state also has an award-winning "Let's recycle RIght!" campaign, which aims to promote proper recycling through public service announcements featuring prominent Rhode Islanders. These efforts are crucial in ensuring that more plastic is recycled and diverted from landfills in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island's plastic waste statistics

Rhode Island has three plastic recycling programs. The first and most well-known is the mixed recycling program, which accepts plastic containers up to 5 gallons in size, including bottles, jugs, jars, tubs, cups, and clamshells. Foam containers and containers that previously held flammable or oily chemicals are not accepted. The second program is for plastic bags and film, which must be clean, dry, and stretchable. The third program is for bulky, rigid plastics, such as broken plastic recycling bins, trash barrels, storage totes, shelving, and lawn furniture.

Despite these programs, Rhode Island struggles with plastic waste. In 2015, approximately 62,500 tons of plastic ended up in the state's landfill, with only half of that amount being recycled through the state's programs. This issue is not unique to Rhode Island, as only 9% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled globally. The Central Landfill in Rhode Island is expected to reach capacity by 2034 due to the large amount of plastic waste, and there is limited space to expand.

The recycling process in Rhode Island begins at the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) in Johnston, where recyclables are sorted. However, loads can be rejected if they are contaminated with non-recyclable materials, overly wet, or too tightly compacted. Contaminated loads end up in the Central Landfill, reducing the amount of recyclable material.

In Fiscal Year 2022, only 27% of the estimated total weight of recyclable plastics in Rhode Island was recycled, with 73% going to landfills. This low recycling rate is partly due to the state's difficulty in finding buyers for all the recycled materials. Additionally, there is a lack of awareness about proper recycling practices among residents, leading to contaminated loads and recyclable materials ending up in landfills.

To address these issues, Rhode Island has implemented initiatives such as standardized labels for recycling bins and educational campaigns like "Let's recycle RIght!" to promote proper recycling practices. Despite these efforts, the state continues to face challenges in reducing plastic waste and improving its recycling rates.

Rhode Island's plastic landfill issues

Rhode Island has a complex system for sorting and recycling plastics, but a large amount still ends up in landfill. In FY22, only 27% of the estimated total weight of recyclable plastics in the state was recycled, with 73% going to landfill. This is a serious issue, as plastics do not biodegrade, and the Central Landfill is expected to run out of space by 2034.

The state has three plastic recycling programs. The first is the mixed recycling program, which includes plastic containers such as bottles, jugs, jars, tubs, cups, and clamshells. These must be smaller than 2 gallons and cannot be foam containers or containers that held flammable or oily chemicals. The second program is for plastic bags and film, which must be clean, dry, and able to stretch. The third program is for bulky, rigid plastics, such as broken plastic bins, trash barrels, storage totes, and lawn furniture.

Despite these programs, a significant amount of plastic still ends up in Rhode Island's landfill. This is due to several factors. Firstly, loads of recyclables are sometimes rejected by the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) if they are contaminated with non-recyclable materials, such as plastic bags, propane tanks, or organic waste. Secondly, Rhode Island, like other states, sometimes struggles to find buyers for all the recycled materials it processes. Finally, human error plays a role, as some residents do not recycle correctly, leading to recyclable materials being treated as trash.

To address these issues, Rhode Island has implemented several measures. The state has adopted standardized labels for recycling bins, which have been proven to increase recycling and decrease contamination. Additionally, the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, the agency that operates the MRF and Central Landfill, provides detailed guidelines and educational campaigns to help residents recycle correctly. However, despite these efforts, the state continues to face challenges in reducing plastic waste and extending the lifespan of its landfill.

Rhode Island's plastic recycling contamination

Rhode Island has three plastic recycling programs. The first is the mixed recycling program, which includes plastic containers such as bottles, jugs, jars, tubs, cups, and clamshells. These containers must be smaller than 2 gallons and cannot include foam containers or containers that once held flammable or oily chemicals. The second program is for plastic bags and film, which must be clean, dry, and stretchable. The third program is for bulky, rigid plastics such as broken plastic recycling bins, trash barrels, storage totes, and lawn furniture.

Despite these programs, Rhode Island struggles with plastic recycling contamination. In FY 2018, 10,391 tons of contaminated recycling was rejected by the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC), resulting in a financial loss for the City of Providence. High contamination levels can cause entire loads of recycling to be rejected and sent to landfills, while lower contamination levels can still impact the purity of recycling bales, making them undesirable to buyers.

The main sources of contamination are a lack of public awareness and confusing signage on recycling bins. Many residents mistakenly believe that if something is made of plastic, it can be recycled, leading to the inclusion of non-recyclable items in their recycling bins. Additionally, plastic bags are a common issue, as they are not accepted in curbside carts but are often found mixed with recyclable materials.

To address these issues, RIRRC has relaunched its "Let's Recycle Right!" campaign to educate the public about proper recycling practices and reduce contamination. The detailed guidelines for recycling in Rhode Island are available online and include specific "do's and don'ts" to ensure that recyclers receive uncontaminated materials.

Overall, Rhode Island's plastic recycling contamination is a significant issue that requires public education and adherence to basic recycling guidelines to improve the quality of recycled materials and reduce landfill waste.

Rhode Island's plastic recycling guidelines

Rhode Island has three plastic recycling programs, and the state's recycling guidelines are as follows:

Mixed Recycling Program

This is the most well-known program and includes items that can be placed in your recycling bin or cart at home, school, or work. The key word here is "container." Plastic containers up to 5 gallons in size are accepted, including bottles, jugs, jars, tubs, cups, and clamshells. Do not include foam containers, containers that previously held flammable or oily chemicals, or non-container plastics. Paper and cardboard should be clean and dry, and cartons and containers should be empty and rinsed when possible. Plastic tops should be placed back on cartons and containers before recycling.

Plastic Bags and Film

This program includes plastic bags and film that are clean, dry, and can stretch, such as shopping bags, bread bags, and sandwich bags. The bags should be knotted before disposal. Do not include clingy food wrap; place this in the trash instead.

Bulky, Rigid Plastics

Many cities and towns have special drop-off containers for bulky, rigid plastics. This includes items like broken plastic recycling bins, trash barrels, storage totes, shelving, and lawn furniture.

It's important to note that not all plastic placed in recycling bins is actually recycled. In FY22, only 27% of the estimated total weight of recyclable plastics in Rhode Island was recycled, while 73% went to landfills. This is due to a variety of factors, including contamination, weather conditions, and the difficulty of finding buyers for recycled materials.

To improve recycling rates, Rhode Island has implemented initiatives such as the Plastic Waste Reduction Act, which bans retail establishments from providing single-use plastic bags to customers. The state also provides recycling labels to increase recycling and decrease contamination.

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