| R 302 |
| 2026 -- H 8515 Enacted 05/05/2026 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| PROCLAIMING MAY 3-9, 2026, TO BE "COMPOSTING AWARENESS WEEK" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Representatives Cortvriend, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, McGaw, Carson, Boylan, Fogarty, Ajello, and Fellela |
| Date Introduced: May 05, 2026 |
| WHEREAS, Each year, Composting Awareness Week is celebrated nationwide during |
| the first full week of May with the goal of raising public awareness of the environmental, |
| economic, and societal benefits of composting; and |
| WHEREAS, Compost is a mixture of organic materials such as yard trimmings, |
| vegetable and fruit peels and scraps, other food waste, flowers, eggshells, paper products, |
| nutshells, sawdust, wood chips, biosolids, manure, hay shavings, and leaves. These materials are |
| rich in moisture and nutrients, and when added to the soil in gardens, farms, and landscapes, they |
| enhance plant growth, soil structure and overall ecosystem health; and |
| WHEREAS, By retaining and transferring moisture through the soil to plants, |
| composting 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, Rich in both nutrients and beneficial organisms, compost supports plant |
| health and growth, soil biodiversity, as well as organisms such as worms, centipedes, spiders, |
| beetles, and fungal mycelium. This minimizes the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, |
| thereby reducing 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 |
| promote more sustainable practices; and |
| WHEREAS, The beneficial organisms and microbes in compost also sequester and retain |
| carbon in the soil, helping to prevent carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases, from |
| being released into the atmosphere in large amounts due to decomposing waste in landfills; and |
| WHEREAS, Incorporating compost into 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 to prevent climate change, and lead to the creation of green jobs; |
| now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| proclaims May 3-9, 2026 to be "Composting Awareness Week" and respectfully urges the |
| Governor and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to observe the week |
| with appropriate activities and programs. We, moreover, encourage all Rhode Islanders to start |
| composting and help build a healthier, more sustainable environment for all; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Daniel McKee, Governor of the |
| State of Rhode Island, and Terrence Gray, Director of the Rhode Island Department of |
| Environmental Management. |
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| LC006029 |
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