Providence, the capital city of Rhode Island, is the second largest city in New England, and also the second fastest growing city in the Northeast. The 2000 Census population was 173,618. Nearly one-third of the population is Hispanic. See Racial and Ethnic Breakdown for a more detailed look at these numbers.
Further information about Providence can also be found at http://www.provplan.org/ or http://www.providenceri.com/frame.html.

Before beginning my exploration of communication concerning garbage and recycling practice in the Providence urban core, I gathered data and information on the general state of garbage, recycling, and rat problems in the City.

The following links summarize those data:

Several recent student theses for the Center for Environmental Studies at Brown University have been dedicated to the study of Providence and its urban environment. Topics covered include: the relationship between crime and environmental factors such as abandoned buildings, public parks, air quality, and lead poisoning. (Other Web Theses)