Title 23
Health and Safety

CHAPTER 19.19
The Statewide Implementation Analysis for a Beverage Container Redemption, Packaging, and Recycling Plan

§ 23-19.19-2. Statewide implementation analysis for a beverage container redemption, packaging, and recycling plan.

(a) The department of environmental management (DEM), in collaboration with the department of administration (DOA), and the Rhode Island resource recovery corporation (RIRRC), shall commission a statewide needs assessment to determine the infrastructure, policy, and programmatic requirements necessary to support a statewide redemption and recycling plan including packaging materials, paper products, standard and miniature size beverage containers including, but not limited to, aluminum and bimetal containers, glass containers, plastic containers, and other priority materials as designated by the department.

(b) By October 29, 2025, the department shall procure an independent third-party consultant with relevant expertise to conduct the assessment, which shall include:

(1) A baseline solid waste and recycling analysis, which shall include an analysis of the following:

(i) A characterization of the statewide solid waste stream by material type, quantity, source, and disposal method;

(ii) A breakdown of recyclable and compostable materials by jurisdiction, type, collection method, and end-market destination;

(iii) An analysis of materials that are currently not captured but are recyclable; and

(iv) Current costs and revenues associated with municipal solid waste, recycling, and composting operations, including tipping fees and contract terms.

(2) An infrastructure and capacity evaluation, which shall include an evaluation of the following:

(i) An analysis and inventory of existing collection, sorting, and processing infrastructure, including materials recovery facilities (MRFs), composting operations, and transfer stations;

(ii) An assessment of processing capacity gaps and identification of capital investments required to expand local and regional processing;

(iii) A review of reuse and refill systems, including reverse logistics and retail-based programs; and

(iv) An evaluation of current contamination and litter rates, material flow logistics, and gaps in access to curbside and drop-off collection services.

(3) An assessment of environmental geographic considerations, which shall include an assessment of the following:

(i) A demographic and geographic analysis of waste service access and participation;

(ii) An evaluation of public outreach, education, and participation in reuse and recycling programs; and

(iii) Recommendations to enhance job quality, health, and safety for facility and collection workers.

(4) Economic and market impacts, which shall include the following:

(i) Identification of lost economic value due to landfilling of recyclable materials;

(ii) Job estimates and business opportunities related to increased material recovery, recycling, and reuse;

(iii) Barriers and recommendations for developing local end-markets and supply chains that utilize recovered and redeemed materials; and

(iv) A cost-benefit analysis of a redemption and comprehensive recycling program framework for all impacted parties.

(5) A redemption and recycling plan design review, which shall include the following:

(i) An evaluation of successful redemption and recycling program designs in peer states;

(ii) Recommendations for a Rhode Island redemption fee; and

(iii) An analysis of environmental benefits, including greenhouse gas reductions, material recovery targets, and reduced litter and marine debris.

(iv) Consideration of recommendations provided in the final report of the special joint legislative bottle waste commission to study and provide recommendations to protect our environment and natural resources from plastic waste.

(v) Consideration of the program proposed in H6207/S0996 as introduced in the general assembly January session AD. 2025.

(6) Suggested performance targets and phasing recommendations, which shall include the following:

(i) Diversion goals, timetables, and metrics for assessing success under low, moderate, and high-impact implementation scenarios;

(ii) Recommendations for investment timelines, education campaigns, and dashboard designs, and reporting protocols to ensure transparency and accountability; and

(iii) Recommendations for addressing specific items in the waste stream including, but not limited to, miniature size beverage containers.

(iv) An analysis of the performance targets and implementation timelines proposed in H6207/S0996 as introduced in the general assembly January session AD. 2025.

(c) The implementation analysis pursuant to this section shall be conducted with input from municipalities, quasi-public agencies, and regional planning entities and shall include direct input from industry stakeholders and impacted communities.