Here are key pieces of RI General Law that address waste, recycling, compost, etc. Under each, we’ve highlighted common items you may be looking for. You can also search the complete index RI General Laws, and the complete list of waste management regulations.
CHAPTER 11-9-10 Abandonment of refrigerator in place accessible to children
CHAPTER 16-111 School Waste Recycling and Refuse Disposal
CHAPTER 21-27.3 Disposable Food Service Containers
CHAPTER 23-18.8 Waste Recycling
- § 23-18.8-2 (3) 35% recycling rate target (see more under Refuse Disposal below)
- § 23-18.8-2 (5) Mandatory recycling for all solid waste
- § 23-18.8-2 (11) RI DEM responsibility to define recyclable materials (see rules and regulations below)
- § 23-18.8-2 (13) Commercial recycling reporting requirement and municipal collection of commercial recycling (Main Street program)
- Rules and Regulations for Reduction and Recycling of Municipal Solid Waste (4/7/97)
- Rules and Regulations for Reduction and Recycling of Commercial and Non-Municipal Residential Solid Waste (10/13/96)
CHAPTER 23-18.9 Refuse Disposal
- § 23-18.9-1 Separation of solid waste into recyclable and non-recyclable components
- § 23-18.9-1 (a)(3) 35% recycling rate and 50% diversion rate goals
- § 23-18.9-1 (b)(1) Licensing of haulers
- § 23-18.9-1 (b)(2) Contracts with Resource Recovery
- § 23-18.9-1 (b)(3) Allotting municipal cap to contracted haulers
- § 23-18.9-1 (b)(4) Adopting rules and regulations at the municipal level
- § 23-18.9-1 (b)(2) Financial and technical assistance from Resource Recovery
- § 23-18.9-3 and 9-4 Annual financial funding from the state and restricted use
- § 23-18.9-5 Illegal dumping
- § 23-18.9-8 through 9-15 Solid waste and C&D processing facilities
- § 23-18.9-8.1 Emergency temporary refuse-transfer licenses
- § 23-18.9-16 Beneficial reuse of solid waste
- § 23-18.9-17 and 9-18 Commercial food waste ban
- Solid Waste Regulation No.1- General Requirements for Solid Waste Management Facilities and Organic Waste Management Facilities (10/25/05)
- Solid Waste Regulation No.2- Solid Waste Landfills (2/97)
- Solid Waste Regulation No.3- Transfer Stations and Collection Stations (3/97)
- Solid Waste Regulation No.4- Incinerators and Resource Recovery Facilities (1/97)
- Solid Waste Regulation No.5- Waste Tire Storage and Recycling (1/97)
- Solid Waste Regulation No.6- Petroleum Contaminated Soil Processing Facility (1/97)
- Solid Waste Regulation No.7- Facilities That Process Construction and Demolition Debris (5/7/01)
- Solid Waste Regulation No.8- R.I. Waste Composting Facility (5/4/16)
CHAPTER 23-18.11 Promotion of Paper Bag Usage
- § 23-18.11-3 Provision of paper bag alternative at no extra cost
- § 23-18.11-3.1 Plastic bag and film recycling at RI stores (“ReStore” program)
CHAPTER 23-18.12 Beverage Container Recyclability
CHAPTER 23-18.13 Toxic Packaging Reduction Act
CHAPTER 23-18.15 Plastic Bottle and Container Labeling Act
CHAPTER 23-18.16 Newspaper Recyclability
CHAPTER 23-19 Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation
- § 23-19-3 (10) No tip fee on recyclables
- § 23-19-3 (14) and (16) Incineration
- § 23-19-3 (17) Municipal leaf and yard debris cap, and system for sharing cap
- § 23-19-4 (b) and § 23-19-11 Solid waste comprehensive planning
- § 23-19-5 (5) Municipal solid waste
- § 23-19-10 (40) and § 23-19-13 Flow control of municipal waste; no hauling by Resource Recovery
- § 23-19-11 (8) Proper disposal of household hazardous waste
- § 23-19-13 (3) and (4) 35% recycling rate and 50% diversion rate goals
- § 23-19-13 (g)(1) Host community fee
- § 23-19-13 (g)(1)(2)(3) Municipal tipping fee and cap
- § 23-19-13 (g)(4) Seaweed is yard waste
- § 23-19-13.1 Out-of-state waste and recyclables
- § 23-19-13.2 Prohibited medical waste
- § 23-19-13.5 Tip fee rebate
- § 23-19-13.6 Prohibited landfill cover materials
- § 23-19-39 Condo tip fees
- § 23-19-42 Regional school district tip fees (see the load certification form below)
CHAPTER 23-19.1 Hazardous Waste Management
CHAPTER 23-19.6 Used Oil Recycling
CHAPTER 23-19.7 Hazardous Waste Management Facilities
CHAPTER 23-19.12 Generation – Transportation – Storage – Treatment – Management and Disposal of Regulated Medical Waste
CHAPTER 23-19.17 High Heat Waste Facility Act of 2021
CHAPTER 23-19.18 Plastic Waste Reduction Act
