"advanced recycling" = refuse disposal

ECRI strongly opposed this bill as did RI Department of Environmental Management.

ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL, PEOPLE’S PORT AUTHORIY, AND SOUTH SIDE COMMUNITY RALLY AT THE STATE HOUSE TO STOP TOXIC, PLASTIC-BURNING BILLS

Uprise RI recorded the rally.

GoLocalProv.com quoted DEM testimony on June 22, 2022:

The Environment Council of Rhode Island (ECRI), People’s Port Authority, environmental justice organizations, and community members issued a statement on Monday stating the groups have “strong opposition to toxic, plastic burning or so-called 'advanced recycling' bills (S2788/H8089) which undermine efforts to protect environmental justice communities and meet Act on Climate goals.”...

RIDEM voiced strong opposition ot the legislation. "Our interpretation is that if it were to pass, DEM would not have authority to require permitted activities or otherwise regulate these facilities under our solid waste regulations. Also, how much these facilities would be regulated under our air pollution control regulations is unclear. As the letter indicates, we raised concerns about the original bill. The Sub A adds limitations on where an advanced recycling/pyrolysis facility could be built and requires additional air quality monitoring for any such facility. Our concerns with 2788 Sub A Senate bill remain the same as they were initially," said Michael Healey, spokesperson for DEM.

"DEM believes that it sets a bad precedent to provide regulatory exemptions to a specific technology. I don’t believe the House version of the bill has received a hearing yet, but our testimony would be the same. The solid waste permitting process should allow an opportunity for public comment, authority to set conditions on the overall facility construction and operation, and provide financial assurances that closure would be done properly should the facility run into difficulties. Given that this is an innovative technology, we believe these measures are important," adds Healey.