An Elmwood resident said that to different extents most people use the citywide recycling program. "The problem is with people dumping in vacant lots and the subsequent depression in property values and (infestation of) rats," she said. She noted that large abandoned properties are especially magnets for illegal dumping.

Unlicensed businesses are a contributor to the problem, one man said. Auto repair shops operating at individual residences are an example he put forth. "There is no city enforcement," he said. "It is not hard to find serious environmental offenders. There are tires and oil puddles in the lot. The city and state should address that."

On a positive note, a resident of the North Broadway area told the group of her experience in setting up a petition campaign that successfully led to a pilot program with the city. The program consists of an awareness program for new residents and the city supplying 30-gallon covered trashcans. She said that the effectiveness of the program is being tested through before and after surveys of neighborhood residents. Another session participant told of a similar program along Belleview Avenue in the West End that was a success in terms of reducing solid waste problems.

Another person commended a program that gives violators an appropriate waste barrel when they pay fines for past violations. Additionally, the environmental court was called a "great help" as were the community police and the public works department efforts to cite environmental violations.
 

"Dumpster companies should replace dilapidated dumpsters at businesses," one person said. He said many dumpsters are leaky and accessible to "critters." "Who enforces this?" he asked. On the residential level, one person suggested a program to provide residents with 90-gallon covered lid Super-cart trashcans. While the idea of supplying trashcans to residents was supported by the group, there was some discussion about what size of container is appropriate. That question remained unresolved.

Several people commented on a need for better facilities and better practices of waste management and recycling. They made suggestions to expand the current recycling program, return to a twice-weekly trash pickup schedule and the creation of a drop-off site of materials the (city) garbage crews won't normally accept. This discussion was focused by one participant's suggestion of the need to "consolidate services at one central collection facility, one all-purpose center," he said. Included in that proposal was a need for the facility to remain open at night and during weekends.

"Now, the fragmentation (in services) is discouraging effective and proper disposal," he said. The general idea of a consolidated service center for disposal of all types of materials drew a significant amount of agreement from session participants. One person suggested that residents should not be limited in the number of visits to a waste-handling facility.

Session participants suggested a bottle bill might increase recycling and reduce litter. One person suggested there is a need to increase awareness of the problem and existing recycling options. To combat the rat problem, one participant suggested increased baiting for rats, though a potential liability was seen to exist if that was carried out. Participants desired better management and enforcement actions against illegal dumping. One felt it would be "nice of the federal government applied pressure to the city on enforcement."

One person suggested that the existing clean and lien program should be expanded and given more funding in order to force responsibility onto vacant lot owners. Another expressed a need to "lower (EPA) thresholds for what is considered a problem for illegal dumping to match the size of urban lots."

A participant said there was a definite need to do something about abandoned cars in the city. This person, a community police officer, said that all the towing company lots are generally full, so there is no room left to hold abandoned cars. The ensuing discussion revolved around the impacts of the tax on automobiles in the state. The high levels of the tax were seen to create a market for low-cost vehicles at or near the end of their useful life span. Regulation of "used junk cars" coming into the state was suggested as a remedy, as was raising inspection standards.

Greater allocation of city efforts toward collecting trash along commercial streets and making the Rhode Island Public Transit Agency (RIPTA) responsible for collection at bus stops were other actions members of this session suggested.

In terms of public information efforts, the city should "publicize where to take items and when and how many (items can be taken) to everybody," a person said. The group discussed the importance of that information effort being organized in such a way as to reach all populations of the city of Providence.