2025 -- S 1032

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LC002827

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING THE WEEK OF MAY 5TH THROUGH MAY 12TH OF EACH YEAR TO

BE "COMPOSTING AWARENESS WEEK IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND"

     Introduced By: Senators Valverde, Kallman, Lauria, Mack, Raptakis, Gu, Sosnowski,
DiPalma, Murray, and Rogers

     Date Introduced: May 07, 2025

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Compost, a mixture made of organic materials such as yard trimmings,

vegetable and fruit peels and scraps, other food scraps, flowers, eggshells, paper products,

nutshells, saw dust, wood chips, biosolids, manure, hay shavings, and leaves, is rich in moisture

and nutrients, and added to the soil in gardens and farms to help plants and crops grow; and

     WHEREAS, Compost retains and transfers moisture through the soil to the plant, which

minimizes the need for irrigation, reduces water usage by up to 30 percent, conserves water

during droughts, and prevents flooding by retaining water that would otherwise enter drains and

sewers; and

     WHEREAS, Compost is rich in nutrients and organisms beneficial for plant health and

growth, such as worms, centipedes, spiders, beetles, and fungal mycelium, which minimizes the

need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and reduces soil and water pollution; and

     WHEREAS, Composting reduces waste by reusing and recycling organic materials,

which make up approximately 30 percent of all materials sent to landfills, and can help

communities that implement composting programs to efficiently divert waste from landfills and

become more sustainable; and

     WHEREAS, The beneficial organisms and microbes in compost sequester and retain

carbon in the soil, and prevent carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases, which

would otherwise be produced in large amounts by decomposing waste in landfills, from being

released into the atmosphere; and

     WHEREAS, Using compost in certain public works projects, such as the construction and

improvement of parks, trails, highways, and green spaces, can lead to large-scale reductions in

pollution, help prevent climate change, and lead to the creation of green jobs; and

     WHEREAS, The threat of and importance of action against climate change was

recognized by the state through the 2021 Act on Climate, which recognizes that Rhode Island is

especially vulnerable to climate change caused by greenhouse gases; and

     WHEREAS, The need to divert food waste and other organic materials to better and

higher uses has been recognized by the state through legislation including R.I. Gen. Law § 23-

18.9-17 that aims to help increase composting rates by requiring large food generators producing

more than 104 tons of food waste per year to recycle food waste through various methods,

including composting; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims the week of

May 5th through May 12th of each year to be "Composting Awareness Week in the State of

Rhode Island"; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby recognizes the importance of composting in

nourishing essential plants and crops, mitigating the effects of climate change, conserving water,

preventing flooding, recycling waste, preventing pollution, and creating green jobs, and further

encourage composting by businesses and individuals; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Daniel McKee, Governor of the State of Rhode

Island.

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LC002827

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