East Providence council gives first approval to retail plastic bag ban

Would take effect six months after mandatory second passage; former film processing plant to be demolished with odor expected

By Mike Rego
Posted 4/19/19

EAST PROVIDENCE — The City of East Providence could soon join a growing list of municipalities, specifically those like here that abut waterways, in phasing out single-use plastic bags most …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


East Providence council gives first approval to retail plastic bag ban

Would take effect six months after mandatory second passage; former film processing plant to be demolished with odor expected

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — The City of East Providence could soon join a growing list of municipalities, specifically those like here that abut waterways, in phasing out single-use plastic bags most commonly affiliated with supermarkets, convenience stores and drug stores.
The council at its Tuesday, April 16 meeting, gave first of two mandatory approvals to a revised ordinance (see attachment) in Chapter 7 of the charter, “Health and Sanitation,” which would require businesses to eliminate light plastic bags within six months of the final approval date.
“As we know there’s been a great movement in recycling and cleaning up of plastic that has overtooken not only the regular city — curbs, trees, grass areas — but primarily a big influence in our marine life. The city has been working diligently trying to build up the beach at Sabin’s Point,” said Ward 2 Councilor Anna Sousa, who sponsored the amendment and noted the revisions in East Providence mimics ordinances in other area coastal communities.
She continued, “So this is something I feel is very important for us as a community. It’s something East Bay neighboring towns, specifically Barrington a few years ago fought very hard for, pioneered and was successful in starting in their community and has caught wild fire in the Bay area.”
Ms. Sousa stressed she was not attempting to place any hardship on local businesses, that she had consulted several local retailers about the proposal and that it was something companies both large and small in the area and across the country were engaged in already.
“Being the ‘Ocean State’ we have a lot of marine life and coastal land we have to preserve if we want to use it,” Ms. Sousa added. “And I think that East Providence should be one of those who pioneers this,” she said.
The measure received unanimous initial support of the council. It will soon be on another meeting docket for a public hearing and second approval.
Ward 1 member and council president Bobby Britto said, “the more I looked into it further I became more and more supportive.” Of the six-month time frame for implementation, he added, “It give companies time to clear out inventory. I think that’s more than enough.”
Added At-Large Councilor Bob Rodericks, “The bottom line for me is this is just good for the environment. I see the evidence…plastic just does not go away.”
Appointments ordinance
The council gave second and final passage to a revised ordinance in Chapter 2 of the City Charter pertaining to “Administration,” specifically pertaining to the process of appointments by the body.
Key among the revisions, which were sponsored by Ward 4 Councilor Ricardo Mourato, is the allowance for existing members of a commission or boards among other groups.
The revision reads as follows: “The prohibition against serving on more than one board or commission with decision making authority shall not apply if a vacancy has occurred for more than ten (10) business days after posting by the City Clerk in accordance with section (a) above or when there has been no other eligible application received. The limit of service on more than one (1) board and commission shall not extend to boards and commissions in which the person's service was at the appointment of another board or commission to which they are to serve as a liaison, exofficio or ad-hoc member. There shall be no limit to service on advisory boards or
commissions.”
Odor alert
Mr. Britto alerted the public and specifically residents in his Rumford section about the pending tear down and remediation activities on parcels located at 210 and 220 Massasoit Ave. this summer.
Mr. Britto noted the building to razed is a former film processing plant. The project is currently in the permitting process with state departments of transportation and environmental management. Expectation, he said, was for work to begin in mid-summer.
While he is not necessarily concerned so much with the environmental impact or the remediation process, he did want residents to be aware about the fumes demolition will create.
“During the time they’re taking the building down there’s going to be an odor in the air. It’s non toxic, so you don’t have to be concerned with that. I just want the public aware,” said Mr. Britto. “When that building goes down, for a good two or three week period there’s going to be a rotten egg smell.”
“On a good day, with a good gust of wind, they’re going to smell that odor,” he continued. "Whereabouts and how far it will take it, I’m not exactly sure. There will be a community-style meeting to inform the public when it’s exactly going to take place and when they anticipate this smell to be in the air.”

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.