Bill > H5166

This bill provides a comprehensive prohibition on licensing new high-heat waste facilities in Rhode Island, driven by environmental and health concerns. The bill defines a "high-heat waste facility" as any facility that exposes waste materials to temperatures above 400 degrees Fahrenheit through processes like combustion, incineration, gasification, pyrolysis, and other thermochemical conversion methods. These facilities include advanced recycling, chemical recycling, and molecular recycling facilities that transform post-use plastics and other materials into fuels, chemical feedstocks, or other substances. The legislation is based on findings that solid waste incineration releases over 400 toxic pollutants, poses significant health risks, and is the most expensive waste disposal method. Additionally, the bill argues that energy derived from waste combustion is not truly renewable. By explicitly prohibiting the issuance of any permits or licenses for new high-heat waste facilities, the bill aims to protect Rhode Island's communities, environment, climate, and natural resources from potential harmful industrial waste processing technologies.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

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