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Sec. 58-36. - Definitions.#
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Arrangements means the process by which a city or town plans for and carries out the separation, weighing, collection, hauling and disposal of solid waste generated within that city or town.
Bulk item means an item of solid waste larger than two feet by two feet by four feet or heavier than 50 pounds.
Hazardous waste means any waste as defined in G.L. 1956, § 23-19.1-4, and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, and as such regulations may be amended from time to time.
Household hazardous waste means hazardous municipal solid waste.
Local recycling program means a recycling program for municipal solid waste as set forth in a local recycling plan approved by the state pursuant to the municipal recycling regulations, as amended.
Mixed recyclables means recyclable materials which are required to be removed from municipal solid waste at the source and placed in or on top of the setout container provided by the state for transport to the nearest materials recovery facility for recycling.
Municipal solid waste means solid waste generated by the residents of a municipality in the course of daily living, excluding such waste generated by residents in the course of their employment or generated by any manufacturing or commercial enterprise.
Recyclable materials means materials separated from municipal solid waste for reuse as specified by the director of the state department of environmental management and specified in section 4 of the municipal recycling regulations promulgated by such department and within this article.
Resident means anyone residing in the town who generates solid waste.
Solid waste means garbage, refuse and other discarded solid materials generated by residential, institutional, commercial, industrial and agricultural sources, but not including solids or dissolved materials in domestic sewage or sewage sludge, nor hazardous waste, and defined in the Hazardous Waste Management Act, G.L. 1956, § 23-19.1-1 et seq.
Source separation means the removal by the generator of recyclable materials, including mixed recyclables, from all other solid waste generated by the household, and conveyance of the recyclables to the curbside or other designated location by the municipality or its agents.
White goods means major kitchen or laundry appliances including, but not limited to, stoves, washers, refrigerators and dryers. Nothing in this definition shall waive compliance with the rules and regulations for generation, transportation, storage and disposal of hazardous waste.
(Code 1982, § 9-16(a); Code 2003, § 58-36)
Sec. 58-37. - Program established; implementation and administration.#
There is hereby established a program for the mandatory separation of certain recyclable materials from municipal solid waste by the residents of the town and the collection of segregated municipal solid waste at the resident's curbside, property line, or at such other locations as may be from time to time specified by the town administrator. The program shall be implemented and administered by the town administrator with the assistance of the department of public works, the recycling coordinator and the school department.
(Code 1982, § 9-16(b); Code 2003, § 58-37)
Sec. 58-38. - Coordinator.#
The town council shall appoint an individual either parttime or fulltime to coordinate the recycling program with the department of public works, private trash haulers and recycling facilities, and to provide recycling education for the residents and school children including, but not limited to, speaking engagements, school presentations, preparation of press releases, direct mailings, special events, and such other efforts to inform the public of the benefits of recycling and the mechanics of its implementation in accordance with such regulations as may from time to time be promulgated by the state department of environmental management.
(Code 1982, § 9-16(c); Code 2003, § 58-38)
Sec. 58-39. - Curbside collection.#
(a)
The town shall provide for the collection of mixed recyclables once a week from residents and dwellings with one to four units inclusive. Such materials shall be placed at the curbside or property line, as the case may be, in containers provided by the town. For the purposes of this section, the mixed recyclables shall be:
(1)
Food and beverage containers made of glass.
(2)
Aluminum products.
(3)
Tin cans/steel cans.
(4)
Plastic soda bottles and milk jugs.
(5)
Such other materials and items as shall be designated from time to time by the state department of environmental management. The town administrator shall publish a schedule of such items by posting a notice at the Town Hall, 93 Narragansett Avenue, and at the Town Office Building, 44 Southwest Avenue, and by publication of the notice once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within the town. The inclusion of such items in the list of materials for curbside collection shall become effective on the day following the second publication.
(b)
In addition to the mixed recyclables described in subsection (a) of this section, which shall be placed in the containers provided, newspapers shall be placed in proximity to the containers in stacks 12 inches high or less and tied or placed in brown paper grocery bags.
(Code 1982, § 9-16(d); Code 2003, § 58-39)
Sec. 58-40. - Collection schedules.#
The town administrator shall publish collection schedules by posting notice of the schedules at the Town Hall, 93 Narragansett Avenue, and the Town Office Building, 44 Southwest Avenue, and by publication of the schedules once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within the town.
(Code 1982, § 9-16(f); Code 2003, § 58-40)
Sec. 58-41. - White goods.#
The director of public works shall provide for mandatory recycling of white goods.
(Code 1982, § 9-16(e); Code 2003, § 58-41)
Sec. 58-42. - Public events and festivals.#
The town shall require the separation of recyclables as a condition of licensing or authorizing public events at which significant solid waste will be generated, for which the town accepts responsibility for disposal.
(Code 1982, § 9-16(g); Code 2003, § 58-42)
Sec. 58-43. - Commercial recycling.#
Business firms shall be subject to state and federal recycling regulations.
(Code 1982, § 9-16(h); Code 2003, § 58-43)
Sec. 58-44. - Collection by private parties and nonprofit groups.#
Residents are allowed to give recyclables to individuals and to private and nonprofit organizations that have been duly licensed and whose collections are reported in a manner specified by the town administrator to be in compliance with the state department of environmental management reporting requirements.
(Code 1982, § 9-16(i); Code 2003, § 58-44)
Sec. 58-45. - Volunteer collection of recyclable materials.#
The director of public works may issue permits to private parties or charitable organizations to collect recyclable materials on the condition that a report is filed by such party or organization detailing the amount of each material collected, in compliance with the state department of environmental management reporting requirements, and provided that the town administrator determines that such collection does not defeat the purpose of cost effectiveness of the town's recycling program nor conflict with the town's local implementation program.
(Code 1982, § 9-16(l); Code 2003, § 58-45)
Sec. 58-46. - Contracts.#
The town administrator is empowered to supervise, facilitate and contract with either state recycling facilities as mandated by the general laws of the state or with commercial firms for the receipt and processing of recyclable material in a manner consistent with the town's local implementation program that yields the best rate of recycling and the most cost effective result for the town.
(Code 1982, § 9-16(o); Code 2003, § 58-46)
Sec. 58-47. - Reporting requirement.#
The town shall establish an accurate system to keep monthly records of weights of total municipal solid waste and of recyclables which are separated from the total municipal solid waste stream, which records shall be submitted on a monthly basis to the state department of environmental management.
(Code 1982, § 9-16(m); Code 2003, § 58-47)