Requires manufacturers of mercury containing lamps to establish and implement a statewide collection for the recycling of mercury containing lamps. Required DEM to develop thermostat recycling goals by regulation and to conduct a study to evaluate the number of thermostats in use that will need to be recycled.

This act would require the division of planning to submit a report in consultation with a task force to the governor, the house speaker and the senate president by December 31, 2016, to eliminate regulatory conflicts among the department of environmental management, the resource recovery corporation and municipalities and establish a uniform process in the areas of protection of natural resources, recycling and product stewardship programs. 

Clarifies the definition of "mattress" in the "Responsible Recycling, Reuse, and Disposal of Mattresses Act"

Expand the Rhode Island Clean Water Finance Agency – an existing quasi-public agency with a AAA credit rating that already loans money for infrastructure work. This is budget article 24 of H5900.

Would create a Sustainable Packaging Advisory Council within the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation to reduce packaging waste and litter through shared responsibility for recycling. The council would manage the trust and use its funds to promote the collection, recycling, and composting of packaging materials sold in or into the state. RIRRC and the council would collect fees from products of packaging and pay to municipalities and others from the tonnage of materials recycled by each entity.

This act would establish a plan for the gradual ban on the use of disposable plastic checkout bags by retail establishments.