Smart Initiatives

Here's an interesting model for waste reduction from the State of Rhode Island. Check out this Mission Statement:

"Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation will provide environmentally responsible and economically sound waste management options to meet community needs using public and private systems, programs, and facilities."


Here's more information about RIRRC

And here's a link to a plastic bag recycling program they run called RESTORE

They take all plastic bags and send them to a plant that re-uses the bags in multiple ways:

What will it come back as?

Some return as brand new bags with renewed purpose. Others are melted down and combined with reclaimed wood. The result is a versatile, nontoxic, composite product that can found at lumberyards and Home Depots across the U.S. - used for everything from playgrounds and park benches to marina docks.

Fact: A 2x6 composite board that is 16 ft. long uses approximately 2,250 plastic bags.