Bill > H7911

This bill establishes comprehensive programs for extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging and paper products, and for the recycling of beverage containers in Rhode Island. EPR means that producers of these items will be financially and operationally responsible for managing their end-of-life, including collection, recycling, and disposal. The bill creates new chapters in Rhode Island law to define terms like "producer," "packaging," "beverage container," and "additives of high concern" (substances intentionally added to materials that are harmful to health or the environment). It mandates the creation of producer responsibility organizations (PROs) for both packaging/paper and beverage containers, which will develop and implement program plans, collect fees from producers, and contract with service providers for collection and recycling services. The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) will oversee, approve plans, and enforce these programs, which will be phased in after an implementation analysis. The bill also sets performance targets for recycling, reuse, and reduction, and establishes advisory councils to provide input on program development and implementation. For beverage containers, it mandates a deposit-refund system with a ten-cent refund value per container, aiming to significantly increase redemption rates and establish convenient redemption sites across the state. The goal is to reduce waste, increase recycling and reuse, and shift the financial burden of managing these materials from municipalities and taxpayers to the producers who introduce them into the market.