2014 -- S 2315

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LC003877

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- FOOD RESIDUALS RECYCLING

     

     Introduced By: Senators Cool Rumsey, Sosnowski, Goldin, Archambault, and Conley

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 18.18

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FOOD RESIDUALS RECYCLING

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     23-18.18-1. Purpose. – The purposes of this chapter are:

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     (1) To establish a safe and environmentally sound food residuals recycling initiative in

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Rhode Island that covers facilities that generate food residuals in the state;

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     (2) To reduce the disposal of food residuals in landfills in order to minimize the

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production of greenhouse gases, recover the nutrient value of food residuals and extend the

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capacity of landfills;

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     (3) To develop a strategy for waste reduction in the state with the participation of

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manufacturers, processors and consumers; and

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     (4) To promote the creation of green jobs.

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     23-18.18-2. Findings. – The general assembly hereby finds and declares:

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     (1) Food residuals disposed in landfills result in the production and release of methane, a

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greenhouse gas twenty-one (21) times as potent as carbon dioxide;

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     (2) The nutrient value of food residuals disposed in landfills cannot be recycled into

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beneficial uses;

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     (3) Reducing the amount of food residuals sent to landfills will extend the life of those

 

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landfills;

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     (4) In order to address these real threats to public health and the environment, efforts

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should be made to minimize the disposal of food residuals in landfills.

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     (5) Food residuals collected under the requirements of this chapter shall be managed

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according to the following order of priority uses:

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     (i) Reduction of the amount generated at the source;

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     (ii) Diversion of food consumption by humans;

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     (iii) Diversion for agricultural use, including consumption by animals; and

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     (iv) Anaerobic digestion, composting, and land application.

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     23-18.18-3. Definitions. – For the purposes of this chapter, the following words shall

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have the following meanings:

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     (1) “Food residuals” means organic material, including, but not limited to, pre-consumer

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and postconsumer food scraps, food processing residue and food-soiled non-recyclable paper

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products used in food preparation or food service that is recyclable, but excludes materials from a

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residence.

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     (2) “Organics recycling facility” means land, appurtenances, structures or equipment

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where food residuals originating from another process or location are recovered using a process

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of accelerated biological decomposition of organic materials under controlled aerobic or

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anaerobic conditions.

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     (3) “Residence” means a single, multi-family or group home, or apartment complex,

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Residence does not include any centralized dining facility.

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     (4) “Source separated” or “source separation” means the separation of compostable or

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recyclable food residuals from non-compostable, non-recyclable materials at the point of

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generation.

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     23-18.18-4. Food residual disposal ban. – (a) A person who produces more than an

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amount identified under subsection 23-18.18-4(b) of this section of food residuals and is located

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within twenty (20) miles of an organics recycling facility that has available capacity and that is

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willing to accept the food residuals shall:

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     (1) Separate food residuals from other solid waste, provided that a de minimis amount of

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food residuals may be disposed of in solid waste when a person has established a program to

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separate food residuals and the program includes a component for the education of program users

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regarding the need to separate food residuals; and

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     (2) Recycle food residuals on site or treat food residuals via on-site organic treatment

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equipment permitted pursuant to the general laws or federal law; or

 

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     (3) Arrange for the transfer of food residuals to an organics recycling facility; or

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     (4) Arrange for the transfer of food residuals to another location that manages food

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residuals in a manner consistent with the priorities established under subsection 23-18.18-2(d).

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     (b) The following persons shall be subject to the requirements of subdivision (a)(1) of

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this section:

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     (1) Beginning on January 1, 2015, a person whose acts or processes produce more than

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fifty-two (52) tons per year of food residuals;

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     (2) Beginning on January 1, 2017, a person whose acts or processes produce more than

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twenty-six (26) tons per year of food residuals;

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     (3) Beginning of January 1, 2019, a person whose acts or processes produce more than

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eighteen (18) tons per year of food residuals; and

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     (4) Beginning on January 1, 2021, a person whose acts or processes produce any amount

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of food residuals.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- FOOD RESIDUALS RECYCLING

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     This act would create a food residuals recycling program to establish a safe and

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environmentally sound method to dispose of food residuals.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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