2016 -- S 2178 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - REFUSE DISPOSAL

     Introduced By: Senators Goldin, Ruggerio, Goodwin, Felag, and Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: January 27, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 23-18.9-17 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-18.9 entitled "Refuse

Disposal" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     23-18.9-17. Food waste ban. -- (a) On and after January 1, 2016, each covered entity and

each covered educational institution shall ensure that the organic waste materials that are

generated by the covered entity or at the covered educational facility are recycled at an

authorized, composting facility or anaerobic digestion facility or by another authorized recycling

method if:

      (1) The covered entity or covered educational facility generates not less than one

hundred four (104) tons per year of organic waste material; and

      (2) The covered entity or covered educational facility is located not more than fifteen

(15) miles from an authorized composting facility or anaerobic digestion facility with available

capacity to accept such material.

      (b) On and after January 1, 2018, each covered educational institution shall ensure that

the organic waste materials that are generated at the covered educational facility are recycled at

an authorized, composting facility or anaerobic digestion facility or by another authorized

recycling method if:

     (1) The covered educational facility generates not less than fifty-two (52) tons per year of

organic waste material; and

     (2) The covered entity or covered educational facility is located not more than fifteen (15)

miles from an authorized composting facility or anaerobic digestion facility with available

capacity to accept such material.

     (c)(b) A covered entity or covered educational institution may petition the department for

a waiver of the requirements of subsection (a) of this section if The director shall grant a waiver

of the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this section upon a showing that the tipping fee

charged by the Rhode Island resource recovery corporation for non-contract commercial sector

waste is less than the fee charged for organic waste material by each composting facility or

anaerobic digestion facility located within fifteen (15) miles of the covered entity's location.

     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 - REFUSE DISPOSAL

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     This act would require that on or after January 1, 2018, educational and research

institutions must recycle all of their food waste if they generate not less than 52 tons per year of

organic waste material and are located within 15 miles of an authorized composting facility,

unless the requirement is waived by the department of environmental management. Waivers

would be granted if the cost to recycle is greater than certain tipping fees.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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