R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-90-2: Findings.

The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:

(1) It is in the best interest of this state for providers of mattresses sold in Rhode Island to take responsibility for reducing the environmental and financial impacts of a mattress over its life cycle, from design to management after the end of a mattress’s useful life;

(2) It is in the best interest of this state to reduce illegal dumping of discarded mattresses and determine a process for minimizing costs incurred by Rhode Island’s cities and towns for the management of discarded mattresses; and

(3) It is in the best interest of this state for producers to develop a statewide product stewardship system that serves urban and rural areas in Rhode Island and provides cost-effective, convenient opportunities for the collection, transportation, recovery and safe management of discarded products.