State Specific Policy Resources: Rhode Island

Auxiliary Containers

• R.I. Gen Laws Title 23, Ch. 18.11 Promotion of Paper Bag Usage; § 23-18.11-1 to § 23-18.11-6

Electronics Recycling

• Electronics Recycling Law - R.I. Gen Laws Title 23, Ch. 24.10 Electronic Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling Act; § 23-24.10-1 to § 23-24.10-17 (as amended by 2017 Rhode Island HB 6112 and 2017 Rhode Island SB 888)
• RI Dept. of Environmental Management - Electronic Recycling homepage

Materials Theft

• State Metal Scrap Law
• Regulated Metals: R.I. Gen. Laws Title 6, Ch. 11.2 Purchase and Sale of Regulated Metals; § 6-11.2-1 to § 6-11.2-17
• Catalytic Converters (specifically included in Precious Metals laws): R.I. Gen. Laws Title 6, Chapter 11.1 Purchase and Sale of Precious Metals; § 6-11.1-1 to § 6-11.1-14 (as amended by 2022 RI HB 7751 / SB 2906, effective 06/30/22)
• Second-Hand Dealers: R.I. Gen. Laws Title 5, Ch. 21 Second-Hand Dealers; § 5-21-1 to § 5-21-2
• Local Metal Scrap Law
• Providence Ordinance - Part II, Ch. 14, Article VII. Junk and Secondhand Dealers; § 14-127 to § 14-154
• ISRI Summary of Rhode Island Metal Scrap Statute (Sept. 28, 2022)

Scrap Yard / Junk Yard Zoning

• R.I. Gen Laws Title 24, Ch. 14 Junkyard Control Act; § 24-14-1 to § 24-14-12

State Superfund (no SREA equivalent)

• R.I. Gen Laws Title 23, Ch. 19.1 Hazardous Waste Management; § 23-19.1-1 to 23-19.1-33

Stormwater Permitting

• Rhode Island DEM - RIPDES Stormwater Industrial Activity
• Permit No. RIR500000 - Storm Water Discharge Associated with Industrial Activity
  Effective: 05/03/19; Expires: 05/02/24
• RIPDES Electronic Reporting to submit or revise a NOI or other forms

Tire / Rubber

• R.I. Gen Laws Title 23, Ch. 23-63 Vehicle Tire Storage and Recycling; § 23-63-1 to § 23-63-7
• R.I. Gen Laws Title 37 Public Property and Works
• Chapter 37-15 Litter Control and Recycling
• § 37-15-6 Littering Prohibited
• § 37-15-7.1 Penalties - Used tires
• Chapter 37-15.1 Hard-to-Dispose Material - Control and Recycling; § 37-15.1-1 to § 37-15.1-11 (ISRI note: "hard-to-dispose of material" includes tires used on motorized vehicles and trailers.)
• R.I. Gen Laws Title 42, Ch. 42-64; § 42-64-19 Trust funds. (ISRI note: includes tire site remediation account)
• R.I. Gen Laws Title 44, Chapter 44-44 Taxation of Beverage Containers, Hard-to-Dispose Material and Litter Control Participation Permittee; § 44-44-1 to § 44-44-23
• R.I. Gen Laws Title 5, Chapter 21 Second-Hand Dealers; § 5-21-1 to § 5-21-7 (ISRI note: includes requirements for local licensing and penalties for an "automobile junkyard". Definition of "automobile junkyard" includes tires.)

Vehicle Detitling / Dismantling

• R.I. Gen Laws Title 5, Chapter 21 Second-Hand Dealers; § 5-21-1 to § 5-21-7 (ISRI Note: includes requirements for local licensing and penalties for an "automobile junkyard")
• Catalytic Converters (specifically included in Precious Metals laws): R.I. Gen. Laws Title 6, Chapter 11.1 Purchase and Sale of Precious Metals; § 6-11.1-1 to § 6-11.1-14
• R.I. Gen Laws Title 31 Motor and Other Vehicles
• Chapter 1 Definitions and General Code Provisions
• § 31-1-19 Types of business. (ISRI Note: "wrecker" includes dismantler)
• § 31-1-20 Established place of business.
• Chapter 3.1 Certificates of Title and Security Interests
• § 31-3.1-17 Scrapping, dismantling or destroying vehicle.
• § 31-3.1-25 Suspension or revocation of certificates.
• Chapter 4 Transfer of Vehicles
• § 31-4-1 Expiration of registration by transfer of interest in vehicle – Disposition of plates.
• § 31-4-8 Dismantled vehicles.
• § 31-4-8.1 Penalties.
• Ch. 6, § 31-6-12 Business and special license fees. (ISRI Note: includes wrecker's license)
• Chapter 8 Offenses Against Registration and Certificate of Title Laws
• § 31-8-4 Suspension or revocation of registration or certificate of title.
• § 31-8-6 Owner to return evidences of registration upon cancellation, suspension, or revocation.
• Ch. 33; § 31-33-14 Return of registration plates on disposing of vehicle.
• Chapter 46 Rhode Island Salvage Law; § 31-46-1 to § 31-46-7
• R.I. Gen Laws Title 42, Ch. 14.2 Department of Business Regulation – Automobile Wrecking and Salvage Yards; §42-14.2-1 to § 42-14.2-21

Mercury Vehicle Switch

• R.I. Gen Laws Title 23, 24.9 Mercury Reduction and Education Act
• § 23-24.9-3 Definitions.
• § 23-24.9-7 Phase-out and exemptions.
• § 23-24.9-9 Disposal ban.
• § 23-24.9-10 Collection of mercury-added products.
• § 23-24.9-16 Violations.
• § 23-24.9-19 Mercury advisory working group.

Abandoned Vehicles

• R.I. Gen Laws Title 31, Ch. 22 Miscellaneous Rules
• § 31-22-13 Abandoned vehicles.
• § 31-22-14 Towing – Costs paid by owner. (includes payment of crushing fees)
• § 31-22-14.1 Towing – Accident scene.
• § 31-22-15 Lien for towing and storage charges.
• § 31-22-16 Sale to enforce lien.
• § 31-22-17 Notice of sale.
• § 31-22-18 Newspaper advertisement of sale.
• R.I. Gen Laws Title 31, Ch. 42 Abandoned Motor Vehicles
• § 31-42-1 Definitions.
• § 31-42-4 Auction of abandoned motor vehicles.
• § 31-42-6 Unlicensed junkyards.
• § 31-42-7 Disposal to demolishers.
• § 31-42-8 Duties of demolishers.
• § 31-42-9 Unidentifiable motor vehicles and/or parts.
• § 31-42-11 Penalties – Costs.