Bill to ban plastic bags introduced in RI

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- "Paper or plastic?" A new bill introduced Tuesday in the Rhode Island House of Representatives aims to eliminate that question at your grocery store checkout aisles.

The bill would ban the distribution of plastic shopping bags at all Rhode Island retailers. If passed, the ban would be effective January 2014 for large retailers and January 2015 for small businesses.

The reason for the proposed prohibition was said to be environmental. Plastic bags are a leading debris type found in coastal cleanups in Rhode Island.

"The bill's introduction is an important first step to protect Narragansett Bay from a major source of plastic-pollution," said Channing Jones, Program Associate with Environment Rhode Island. "Nothing we use for five minutes should pollute Narragansett Bay for future generations."

Banning plastic bags has been a popular environmental approach in dozens of communities across the United States, but Rhode Island's would be the first state-level bag ban legislation.

• Barrington Approves Plastic Bag Ban
• Bristol Considering Plastic Bag Ban

"Banning plastic bags is a simple, effective way to eliminate pollution," added Rep. Maria Cimini, the bill's lead sponsor in the House of Representatives. "As the Ocean State, Rhode Island should be a leader on this issue."

To date, Environment Rhode Island has collected thousands of petition signatures in support of the ban, as well as endorsements from dozens of small businesses.

If the bill is passed, the ban would take effect January 2014 for large retailers and January 1015 for small businesses.