Politics & Government

Lombardo Proposes Bill To Accept Out-Of-State Recycling at Landfill

The Dist. 25 senator says the prohibition on dumping out-of-state trash will remain in effect.

From the Rhode Island General Assembly Press Bureau:

Out-of-state trash is not wanted or accepted at the Central Landfill in Johnston. Trying to dump it there is a fineable offense under state law.

“It doesn’t take studies or statistics to know that the more trash taken into the landfill, the bigger it gets and the shorter its lifespan,” said Sen. Frank Lombardo III (D-Dist. 25, Johnston). “Taking in out-of-state waste materials is detrimental to the landfill, the town and the state.”

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That position does not have to apply to the recycling operation at the landfill site in Johnston.

“Making the trash pile bigger is one thing,” said Sen. Lombardo, “but taking in recyclable materials, processing them, moving them out and making money on them is a big win situation for everyone. By encouraging recycling, we preserve the life of the landfill and protect our environment. Moreover, the recycling process is profitable, and some of that money finds its way back to the communities, including my town of Johnston.”

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Because the recycling facility at the landfill can handle a larger volume of materials and because the resulting profit from saleable recycled commodities could mean millions of dollars more to share with cities and towns, Sen. Lombardo has introduced legislation to allow recyclable materials originating out-of-state to be brought into the Resource Recovery Corporation’s Materials Recycling Facility operation.

The bill, 2011-S 0454, proposes that profits from the sale of recycled commodities from out-of-state sources be split three ways, with 25 percent retained by the RIRRC, 25 percent paid to the town of Johnston and 50 percent shared by the remaining 38 cities and towns on a pro rated basis in accordance with the RIRRC distribution of in-state recyclable profits to municipalities.

“At a conservative estimate of an additional $2 million in profits by processing and selling recyclable out-of-state materials, my community would receive a half-million dollars, which is money it certainly could use. I’m sure the other cities and towns in the state would also appreciate a greater payback from the RIRRC,” said Sen. Lombardo. “This is one area where a little extra volume of material coming into the landfill is not a bad thing.”

According to the RIRRC website, the Materials Recycling Facility at the landfill can process 35 tons of paper per hour and 25 tons of recyclable materials per hour (for a total of 60 tons per hour). About 330 tons of recyclable materials are brought to the MRF every day (RIRRC’s figure). Because the MRF operates for as many hours a day as necessary to process materials brought in, more materials can be accommodated.

“This bill is not meant to open the floodgates on out-of-state materials into the Central Landfill,” said Senator Lombardo. “The facility is not going to accept more materials than it can handle, and there is not going to be a stream of out-of-state trucks driving through Johnston. But as long as the MRF can process more materials and as long as that process results in profits that can revert back to our cities and towns, I believe Resource Recovery should have the ability to accept recyclable materials – and only recyclable materials – from out-of-state.”

The Lombardo bill is before the Senate Committee on Environment & Agriculture but has not yet been scheduled for a hearing. Co-sponsors include Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham), Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown), Senate Majority Leader Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, Providence, North Providence) and Sen. William A. Walaska (D-Dist. 30, Warwick).


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