2024 -- S 2303

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LC004776

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HIGH HEAT WASTE FACILITY ACT

     

     Introduced By: Senators Ujifusa, Mack, Bell, Murray, Kallman, Gu, Acosta, and Zurier

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Findings.

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     (1) As stated in §§ 23-19-3(14) and (16), solid waste incineration releases more than four

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hundred (400) toxic pollutants including lead, mercury, dioxins, and acid gasses; poses

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unacceptable threats to the health and safety of Rhode Islanders and the environment; and is the

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most costly method of waste disposal;

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     (2) Energy derived from the combustion of solid waste, and from the combustion of fuels

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derived from solid waste, is not renewable energy; and

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     (3) It is in the best interests of the health, safety, and welfare of residents and visitors to

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Rhode Island to protect our communities, environment, climate, and natural resources by

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prohibiting the construction and operation of solid waste incinerators, waste-to-fuel facilities,

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waste-to-chemical facilities, and other high-heat waste facilities.

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     SECTION 2. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 19.19

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HIGH HEAT WASTE FACILITY ACT

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     23-19.19-1. Definitions.

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     (1) "Construction and demolition (C&D) debris" has the same meaning as set forth in § 23-

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18.9-7.

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     (2) "Depolymerization" means a process through which heat, pressure, and/or solvents are

 

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used to break plastic polymers into oligomers and/or monomers.

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     (3) "Gasification" means a process through which materials are exposed to heat, converting

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carbon-based materials to synthetic fuels, chemical feedstocks, waxes, lubricants, or other

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substances and solid residues, slag, ash, char, liquid wastes, and/or wastewater.

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     (4) "Hazardous waste" has the same meaning as set forth in § 23-19.1-4.

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     (5) "High-heat waste facility" means a facility which:

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     (i) Uses any disposal, treatment, recycling, or manufacturing process including, but not

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limited to, combustion, incineration, gasification, pyrolysis, hydropyrolysis, solvolysis, or

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depolymerization, that exposes solid waste, segregated solid waste, recyclable materials,

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construction and demolition (C&D) debris, post-use polymers, or recovered feedstock to

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temperatures above four hundred degrees Fahrenheit (400⁰ F); or

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     (ii) Combusts chemicals, feedstocks, fuels, monomers, oligomers, hydrocarbons, or waste

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residues derived from any process that exposes solid waste, segregated solid waste, recyclable

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materials, construction and demolition (C&D) debris, post-use polymers, or recovered feedstock to

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temperatures above four hundred degrees Fahrenheit (400⁰ F).

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     "High-heat waste facility" includes advanced recycling facilities, chemical recycling

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facilities, molecular recycling facilities, and any other facility that uses a thermochemical process

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to convert post-use polymers, plastic, or recovered feedstock into fuels, chemical feedstocks,

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monomers, oligomers, hydrocarbons, waxes, lubricants, feedstocks, fuels, or hydrocarbons.

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     (6) "Hydropyrolysis" means a process through which materials are exposed to heat in the

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presence of hydrogen, converting carbon-based materials to synthetic fuels, chemical feedstocks,

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waxes, lubricants, or other substances and solid residues, slag, ash, char, liquid wastes, and/or

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wastewater.

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     (7) "Plastic" means a synthetic material made from linking monomers through a chemical

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reaction to create a polymer chain, including material derived from either petroleum or a

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biologically based polymer, such as corn or other plant sources.

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     (8) "Post-use polymer" means a plastic polymer previously used in any industrial,

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commercial, agricultural, or domestic activity.

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     (9) "Pyrolysis" means a process through which materials are exposed to heat in the absence

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of oxygen, converting carbon-based materials to synthetic fuels, chemical feedstocks, waxes,

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lubricants, or other substances and solid residues, slag, ash, char, liquid wastes, and/or wastewater.

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     (10) "Recovered feedstock" means material derived and separated from solid waste,

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segregated solid waste, recyclable materials, or construction and demolition (C&D) debris for use

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as a feedstock or raw material in a high-heat waste facility.

 

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     (11) "Recyclable materials" has the same meaning as set forth in § 23-18.9-7.

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     (12) "Segregated solid waste" has the same meaning as set forth in § 23-18.9-7.

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     (13) "Solid waste" has the same meaning as set forth in § 23-18.9-7.

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     (14) "Solvolysis" means a process through which materials are combined with a solvent

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and subjected to heat and/or high pressure.

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     23-19.19-2. Prohibition on new high-heat waste facilities.

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     Notwithstanding any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, no permit or license shall

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be issued for the construction or operation of a new high-heat waste facility, and no application for

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a permit or license for such a facility shall be granted or issued by the state.

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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 HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HIGH HEAT WASTE FACILITY ACT

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     This act would provide for a prohibition on the licensing of any new high-heat waste

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facility.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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