Friday, March 1, 2013
Barrington passed a local ban on plastic bags. Middletown council expressed unanimous support last spring for a potential ban, but said it should be a statewide effort.
Plastic bags, a retail staple conveying purchases from shoes to groceries, endanger wildlife, comprise the majority of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a swirling mass of seaborne junk — and may be banned in Rhode Island. Barrington passed a local ban on plastic bags in October that took effect Jan. 1. Last May, Middletown Town Council showed support for a plastic bag ban but stopped short of implementing an ordinance. Bristol is considering a ban as well, though a vote on the matter has been postponed for further study. Rep. Maria Cimini (D-Dist. 7, Providence) is proposing her own state-wide ban of the bags, H-5403. "With Narragansett Bay, hundreds of miles of coastline, dozens of islands, and hundreds of bodies of water including …
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
The key issues that are driving local elections
As we look ahead to November’s elections, Middletown Patch is devoted to bring you the information you need about every race in town. Here's our start on the key issues that have come up so far in local campaigns: Ban-the-Bag Middletown was the first town approached an environmental advocacy group, Surfriders International, to request a ban on plastic bags. Although council voiced support of the idea, they stopped short of proposing a change to local law. On Monday Oct. 1, the town of Barrington passed an ordinance that restricts plastic bags in retail establishments. Should Middletown reconsider a ban on plastics? Wind Turbines On Sept. 17, Middletown passed an ordinance that restricts wind turbines after Councilor Chris Semonelli said…
Friday, September 28, 2012
Although Middletown Town Council said the issue should be reviewed at the state level, the town of Barrington has decided to make the decision at a local level. Should Middletown revisit?
Last May, Middletown Town Council heard testimony from Surfrider International - Rhode Island Chapter activists about the physical and environmental costs of single-use-plastics to the town. Although the council voiced unanimous support of the ban-the-bag concept, they stopped short of proposing a local ordinance. Town Administrator Shawn Brown advised council that restriction of plastics should be initiated at the state level. Surfrider advocate Lisa Wagenbach said while she was pleased to hear the support, she believed it was a local decision. The town of Barrington agreed. After listening to the ban-the-bag argument, Barrington Council proposed an ordinance that would prohibit retail sales establishments from using plastic bags. …
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Council plans to work with the State to explore ways to reduce plastics in Middletown
Earlier this month, activist and volunteer for Surfrider International - Rhode Island Chapter, Lisa Wagenbach approached Middletown Town Council to raise awareness of the environmental and monetary costs of single-use-plastics. “Remember, World War II was won without single-use plastics,” she said regarding society’s growing dependency on plastics. She explained that not only does the non-biodegradable material clutter our shorelines and waters, it clogs sewers, gutters and drain pipes, which have direct costs to taxpayers. Wagenback explained that while the foundation has been working with local businesses through awareness campaigns to reduce the use disposable plastics, eventually, governmental regulation should be explored. Since …
Friday, April 27, 2012
Surfrider Foundation - Rhode Island Chapter held its fourth annual member party on Thursday night update members on the latest projects and encourage new members to join.
Fans of surfing, beach and beer gathered Thursday night at the fourth annual Surfrider Foundation - Rhode Island Chapter’s membership party held at Easton’s Point Pub. The night was alive with music, raffles, a beach inspired buffet and education on the foundation's latest projects. The Surfrider Foundation started out 25 years ago when small group of surfers in California united to save their favorite wave. It has since grown into an international organization that has hundreds of chapters in fifteen countries. The event, organized by volunteer Lisa Wagenbach, was centered around their most recent ban the bag campaign, which works towards the reduction of plastic trash around Aquidneck Island’s beaches and waters. The campaign was …
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Easton's Point Pub & Restaurant
116 Aquidneck Ave, Middletown, RI
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Amelia Medeiros
11:22 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
We are long overdue on having a ban on plastic bags! more ›