AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- REFUSE DISPOSAL (Authorizes the department of environmental management to issue and enforce rules and regulations to implement and enforce the provisions of the food waste ban.)

S2437

2026 -- S 2437
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LC004753
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- REFUSE DISPOSAL

Introduced By:
Senators Valverde, Kallman, Lauria, Euer, DiPalma, McKenney,
DiMario, Gu, Bell, and Mack

Date Introduced:
February 06, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Environment & Agriculture
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 23-18.9-17 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-18.9 entitled "Refuse
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Disposal" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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23-18.9-17. Food waste ban.
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(a) On and after January 1, 2016, each covered entity and each covered educational
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institution shall ensure that the organic-waste materials that are generated by the covered entity or
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at the covered educational facility are recycled at an authorized composting facility or anaerobic
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digestion facility or by another authorized recycling method if:
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(1) The covered entity or covered educational facility generates not less than one hundred
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four (104) tons per year of organic-waste material; and
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(2) The covered entity or covered educational facility is located not more than fifteen (15)
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miles from an authorized composting facility or anaerobic digestion facility with available capacity
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to accept such material.
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(b) On and after January 1, 2018, each covered educational institution shall ensure that the
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organic-waste materials that are generated at the covered educational facility are recycled at an
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authorized composting facility or anaerobic digestion facility or by another authorized recycling
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method if:
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(1) The covered educational facility generates not less than fifty-two (52) tons per year of
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organic-waste material; and
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(2) The covered entity or covered educational facility is located not more than fifteen (15)

1
miles from an authorized composting facility or anaerobic digestion facility with available capacity
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to accept such material.
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(c) The director shall grant a waiver of the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) upon a
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showing that the tipping fee charged by the Rhode Island resource recovery corporation for non-
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contract commercial sector waste is less than the fee charged for organic-waste material by each
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composting facility or anaerobic digestion facility located within fifteen (15) miles of the covered
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entity’s location.
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(d) On and after January 1, 2023, each educational entity (as defined in
§ 16-110-1

§ 16-
9
111-1
) shall ensure that the organic-waste materials that are generated by the educational entity are
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recycled at an authorized composting facility or anaerobic digestion facility or by another
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authorized recycling method if:
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(1) The educational entity generates not less than thirty (30) tons per year of organic-waste
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material; and
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(2) The educational entity is located not more than fifteen (15) miles from an authorized
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composting facility or anaerobic digestion facility with available capacity to accept such material.
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(e) The department of environmental management is hereby authorized to issue and enforce
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rules and regulations that are not inconsistent with the provisions of chapter 18.9 of this title, or the
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rules and regulations issued under chapter 18.9 of this title, in order to implement and enforce the
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provisions of the food waste ban.
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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 -- REFUSE DISPOSAL
***
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This act would authorize the department of environmental management to issue and
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enforce rules and regulations to implement and enforce the provisions of the food waste ban.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004753
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LC004753 - Page 3 of 3