2019 -- H 5669

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LC000175

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL WASTE RECYCLING AND REFUSE DISPOSAL

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Carson, and Cortvriend

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2019

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended

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by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 110

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SCHOOL WASTE RECYCLING AND REFUSE DISPOSAL

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     16-110-1. Legislative findings.

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     The general assembly recognizes and declares that:

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

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for our students, teachers, support staff, and school district administrators;

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     (2) A significant percentage of school waste is recyclable;

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     (3) A significant percentage of Rhode Island households are suffering from food

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insecurity;

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     (4) Surplus food donations help feed roughly thirteen percent (13%) of Rhode Islanders

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comprising about fifty-six thousand (56,000) households;

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     (5) Food donations are provided for under Rhode Island and federal good samaritan laws

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so that businesses are protected from liability when donations are made in good faith;

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     (6) The Rhode Island department of education, Rhode Island department of health, and

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the United States Department Of Agriculture (USDA) support the recovery for donation of

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unopened commercially packaged food and whole fruits from school meals in Rhode Island;

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     (7) Any environmentally and economically sound solid waste management system must

 

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incorporate recycling and all solid waste capable of being recycled should be recycled;

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     (8) A significant amount of plastics, paper, and electronic equipment is generated as

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waste in Rhode Island Schools;

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     (9) A sound recycling program for all covered educational entities will best be achieved

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by cooperation of the Rhode Island resource recovery corporation, the department of

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environmental management, the Rhode Island department of education, and the cities and towns

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of the state;

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     (10) Upon implementation, the program shall reduce food waste and paper waste at meal

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times and throughout the school day and should be encouraged statewide.

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     16-110-2. Definitions.

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     As used in this chapter.

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     (1) "Educational entity" means the entire Rhode Island school district including all public

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and charter schools.

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     (2) "Share tables" means any table, station or refrigerator within a school where school

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pupils may return approved uneaten wholesome and safe food or beverage items which are then

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made available to other school pupils for consumption.

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     (3) "Waste audit" means an analysis of a facility's waste stream. The audit can identify

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what types of recyclable materials and waste a facility generates, how much of each category is

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recovered for recycling or discarded, and what materials can be composted.

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     16-110-3. Waste audit/report.

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     (a) On or after January 1, 2020, and every three (3) years thereafter, every educational

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institution, including, but not limited to, all public and private schools grades kindergarten

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through twelve (K-12), any charter public school, or any career and technical high school shall

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coordinate and cooperate with the Rhode Island resource recovery corporation (RIRRC) for the

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purpose of conducting school waste audits. These audits shall produce waste management reports

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which shall be collected, maintained, and delivered to all school district school boards, school

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district principals, school district facility managers, and school district superintendents. Such

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waste audits shall be performed at every kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) public,

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private, charter and vocational school in Rhode Island.

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     (b) Waste audits and any reports required herein shall include guidelines and strategies on

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reducing waste for each school district to incorporate into their food waste reduction and

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recycling programs in an effort to eliminate food waste, promote recycling, and provide food to

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local communities.

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     (c) Educational institutions, using the guidelines and strategies pursuant to subsection (b)

 

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of this section, shall design and implement a waste collection system in accordance with

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applicable state law for the diversion of items including, but not limited to, paper, books,

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furniture, computers, office supplies, plastic, glass, cardboard and surplus foods.

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     16-110-4. Food service and refuse disposal.

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     It shall be the policy of the state, the department of education, and any school district

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thereunder to require that any request for proposal (RFP) to select a food service company

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(vendor) to provide food services to a single school district, regional school district, multiple

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school districts, including any public or private school grades kindergarten through twelve (K-

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12), any charter public school, or any career and technical high school, shall include, as part of its

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proposal, assurances that the vendor is in compliance with all laws relative to recycling and

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composting pursuant to chapter 18.9 of title 23; provided that, food waste is separated for

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diversion within that school district.

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     16-110-5. Food service – Local sources preferred.

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     It shall be the policy of the state, the department of education and any school district

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thereunder to encourage that any request for proposal (RFP) to a food service company (vendor)

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to provide food services to a single school district, regional school district or multiple school

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districts including any public or private schools grades kindergarten through twelve (K-12), any

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charter public school, any career and technical high school or any institution of higher learning to

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encourage the use of a vendor that purchases ten percent (10%) of the required food service

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product from a Rhode Island-based food service company. In addition, it shall also be the policy

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of the state, the department of education, and any school district thereunder, to encourage the use

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of vendors who recycle organic-waste materials at an authorized composting facility, an

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anaerobic digestion facility, or by another authorized recycling method, regardless of whether the

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entity purchasing the services is or is not a covered entity or a covered educational institution

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pursuant to the provisions of § 23-18.9-7.

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     16-110-6. Food donations by food service companies.

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     (a) It shall be the policy of the state, the department of education and any school district

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thereunder to require that any request for proposal (RFP) to select a food service company

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(vendor) to provide food services to a single school district, regional school district or multiple

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school districts including any public or private schools grades kindergarten through twelve (K-

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12), any charter public school, or any career and technical high school shall require the vendor to

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donate any unserved nonperishable or unspoiled perishable food to local food banks or the Rhode

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Island Food Bank in accordance with the recommendations from the Rhode Island department of

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health "The Road to End Hunger" initiative.

 

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     (b) Vendors required to donate nonperishable and unspoiled perishable food to local food

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banks or the Rhode Island Food Bank shall initially make arrangements for the provision

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accommodations necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

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     16-110-7. Share tables and food donation by schools.

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     It shall be the policy of this state, the department of education, and any school district

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thereunder to provide and facilitate the use of share tables for collection for donation to

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encourage the consumption of nutritious foods and reduce food waste. All Rhode Island school

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districts may permit the use of share tables provided that the food safety requirements outlined in

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7 CFR 210.13, 220.7, 226.20(1), and 225.16(a), respectively, are followed together with any

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applicable local and state health and food safety codes. Provided, further, any unused share table

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nonperishable or unspoiled perishable food items may be provided to any local food pantry, soup

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kitchen, the Rhode Island Food Bank, or nonprofit serving people in need.

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     16-110-8. Rules and regulations.

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     The commissioner is hereby authorized to promulgate whatever rules and regulations

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may be required to implement this chapter and shall annually provide notice to all school districts

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of the department's school waste disposal and refuse disposal policies.

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     SECTION 2. 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

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capacity to accept such material.

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

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

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

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recycling 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)

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

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capacity 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, 2020, each covered entity and each covered educational

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institution, including, but not limited to, any public or private school shall ensure that the organic-

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waste materials that are generated by the covered entity or at the covered educational facility 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 covered educational facility generates not less than thirty (30) 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)

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

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capacity to accept such material.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL WASTE RECYCLING AND REFUSE DISPOSAL

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     This act would require schools to comply with composting and recycling laws, would

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promote the donation of unspoiled nonperishable food by schools, would promote the selection of

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local food service companies for school food service contracts and the selection of vendors who

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recycle organic-waste at appropriate facilities, and would permit the use of share tables at all

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schools.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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