Environment (Recycling)

HB 7913 would require food service businesses (like restaurants and cafes) to make single-use plastic straws available for customers to take directly from a dispenser, rather than automatically providing them. This changes current practice by shifting responsibility to the customer to actively take a straw if desired. The law would take effect immediately upon passage, applying to all covered establishments. It directly affects how businesses distribute straws but does not ban plastic straws or alter other food service regulations.

HB 7910 creates a program requiring companies that produce packaging and paper products (like food containers, boxes, and paper goods) to manage their recycling. It directly affects manufacturers and brands by shifting the financial and operational responsibility for recycling these materials from taxpayers and local governments to the producers themselves. Key provisions mandate that producers fund, organize, and oversee the recycling system for their packaging and paper waste, rather than relying on public recycling programs. This policy change aims to increase recycling rates and reduce landfill waste by making producers accountable for the end-of-life management of their products.

Requires the producer of artificial turf and turf infill sold or distributed in RI to report its chain of custody, from installation to use, repurposing, recycling and disposal to the department of environmental management.

SB 2219 requires the state's climate council to study whether climate policies shift environmental impacts of carbon-free energy technologies (like solar panels and EV batteries) onto developing countries, including labor conditions, mining effects, and supply chain transparency. It mandates that solar permit applicants set aside funds for panel recycling at end-of-life and requires wind turbine blades to be disposed of or recycled within the state unless approved for off-site recycling. The bill also creates a renewable energy credit program allowing utilities to use tradable credits for clean energy goals, but prohibits credits for energy made with slave/child labor or certain hazardous materials. These provisions directly affect state agencies, energy developers, and manufacturers of carbon-free technology products.

Amends certain provisions relative to school waste recycling and refuse disposal and requires reports of waste audits by educational entities and reports of program participation by vendors.