2016 -- S 2186

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LC004228

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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 - RHODE ISLAND RESOURCE RECOVERY

CORPORATION

     Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, McCaffrey, Lombardo, Archambault, and Lombardi

     Date Introduced: January 27, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 23-19-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-19 entitled "Rhode

Island Resource Recovery Corporation" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     23-19-2. Legislative findings. -- The general assembly recognizes and declares that:

      (1) The people of the state desire to promote a clean and wholesome environment;

      (2) Many municipalities have serious solid waste management problems and face

difficulty in providing adequate services at reasonable costs;

      (3) Inefficient practices and poor management techniques result in pollution problems

and environmental deterioration and result in a waste of land and other valuable resources;

      (4) Solid waste management problems are statewide in scope and necessitate state action

through technical assistance and leadership in the application of new and improved methods and

processes to reduce the amount of solid waste that must be disposed of, and to promote

environmentally acceptable and economically sound solid waste management;

      (5) The continuing technological processes and improvements in the methods of

manufacture, packaging, and marketing of consumer products, has resulted in an increased

volume, and in a change in the characteristics, of material being discharged;

      (6) The economic and population growth of the state and the improvements in the

standards of living enjoyed by the people of the state have required increased industrial

production together with related commercial operations to meet these needs, all of which has

resulted in an increasing volume of discharged materials;

      (7) The failure or inability to economically recover and recycle materials and energy

resources from solid waste results in the unnecessary waste and depletion of natural resources;

      (8) Provision for necessary, cost efficient, and environmentally sound systems, facilities,

technology, and services for solid waste management and resource recovery is a matter of

important public interest and concern, and action taken in this regard will be for a public purpose

and will benefit the public welfare;

      (9) The landfill disposal of solid waste, even under the most ideal conditions, creates a

long-term potential for pollution and environmental degradation;

      (10) Recycling facilities must be integrated into the development of all solid waste

disposal facilities under the jurisdiction of the Rhode Island resource recovery corporation;

      (11) The central landfill is a public resource of limited and finite capacity which the

state, as guardian and trustee for its people, has the right and the obligation to preserve for the use

of its people; and

      (12) The state, by creating the Rhode Island resource recovery corporation and through it

operating the central landfill, is a participant in the landfill services market and has entered that

market for the purpose of serving the citizens, residents, and municipalities of this state.

     (13) Solid waste diversion is necessary and therefore it is the policy goal of the state that

not less than fifty percent (50%) of the solid waste generated be diverted through diversion,

source reduction, re-use, recycling, or composting by 2025.

     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 - RHODE ISLAND RESOURCE RECOVERY

CORPORATION

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     This act would declare that the state's policy goal with respect to solid waste is that not

less than fifty percent of the solid waste generated be diverted through diversion, source

reduction, re-use, recycling or composting by 2025.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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