Department of Environmental Management to hear from public on single-use plastic bag ban

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management will hear from the public Tuesday ahead of a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags.

Spokesperson Mike Healey said they want to hear from Rhode Islanders before the Plastic Waste Reduction Act goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

“Part of the regulations are to make it easier for businesses to comply because we don’t want to be penalizing businesses, we want to get businesses on board, you know buy into the fact that look, all of your competitors are going to have to do this to, so this is the cost of doing business across the board,” Healey told ABC 6 News.

Healey noted that many Rhode Island communities have already passed similar single-use plastic bag bans.

The public can voice their concerns at 3 p.m. in room 300 at 235 Promenade Street in Providence.