Chapter 214

2008 -- S 2565 SUBSTITUTE A

Enacted 07/07/08

A N A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LITTER

Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, Doyle, Perry, Felag, and Connors

Date Introduced: February 13, 2008

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 23-18.11-3.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-18.11 entitled

"Promotion of Paper Bag Usage" is hereby amended to read as follows:

23-18.11-3.1. Recycling containers for plastic bags.[Effective January 1, 2008] --

Every retail establishment that sells or conveys goods or food directly to the ultimate consumer

within the state, shall provide within the retail establishment, at a location convenient for its

customers, receptacles in which customers may place any used clean and dry plastic film bags for

recycling; as defined in section 23-18.11-2, which includes, but shall not be limited to plastic film

grocery sacks, plastic film shopping bags, dry cleaner film, fresh produce bags, and newspaper

sleeves; provided that this provision shall apply only to those retail establishments where the

aggregate conveyance of goods or food is in excess of eight million dollars ($8,000,000) annually

at locations within Rhode Island. ,or where the retail establishment has over ten thousand (10,000

sq. ft.) square feet of retail or wholesale space at one location within Rhode Island. The retail

establishment, at its own expense, shall be responsible for the cost, maintenance, and emptying of

these receptacles and the delivery of the bags collected to a suitable recycling facility, or to an

intermediary company or vendor whose business includes the recycling of plastics. Every retail

establishment shall maintain records indicating where the plastic bags that are collected by such

retail establishments are transported for recycling and report such information to the Rhode Island

resource recovery corporation no later than January 31, 2009 and no later than every January 31

thereafter.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01552/SUB A

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