Rhode Island

Solid Waste Management & Recycling Program Overview

Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation

65 Shun Pike, Johnston, RI 02919-4512

NERC Board Member Representative

Jared Rhodes

Director of Policy and Program

(401) 228-3276


A rocky shoreline of the ocean with waves crashing against the rocks
A pile of bricks against a blue sky with clouds

Overview

In Rhode Island, most major waste management functions have historically been vested in two agencies: R.I. Resource Recovery Corporation (Resource Recovery) and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM). Resource Recovery’s major responsibility is developing and operating facilities and programs for solid waste management and recycling, while DEM is mainly responsible for regulating solid and hazardous waste management facilities. Both agencies have other responsibilities, including planning, public education, technical assistance, and funding. 


Resource Recovery’s 1,200 acre facility in Johnston is home to five major operations:


Materials Recycling Facility for bin/cart recyclables

Small Vehicle Area for special/bulky item drop-off

Eco-Depot for household hazardous waste

Compost for leaf & yard debris

Central Landfill for trash

The goal of the Resource Recovery’s solid waste management system is to minimize waste generated and maximize waste reduction to extend the useful life of the Central Landfill.

  • Program Contacts

    Automobile Shredding / Shredder Fluff

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430


    Batteries

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Biosolids

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Beneficial Use Determinations

    Kasie McKenzie

    DEM

    401-222-4700 


    Carpets

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Climate Change

    Elizabeth Stone

    DEM

    401-222-4700 


    Coal Combustion Products

    Mark Dennen

    DEM

    401-222-4700 


    Commercial / Business Recycling

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Commercial / Business Recycling

    Alyson Brunelli

    DEM

    401-222-4700 


    Compost - Backyard

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Compost - Commercial

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Compost - Commercial

    Alyson Brunelli 

    DEM

    401-222-4700 


    Compost - Facility Registration & Regulation

    Nathan Arruda

    DEM

    401-222-4700 


    Construction and Demolition

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Construction and Demolition

    Walid Ali

    DEM

    401-222-4700 


    Data Management

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Electronics

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Electronics

    Alyson Brunelli

    DEM

    401-222-4700 


    EPP Procurement

    Ann Battersby

    DEM

    401-222-4700 


    Foundry Sand

    Robert Nero

    DEM

    401-222-4700 


    Glass

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Grants - Municipal

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Household Hazardous Waste

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Industrial By-Products

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Materials Exchanges

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Mattresses

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Mercury

    Ann Battersby

    DEM

    401-222-4700 


    Metals

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Municipal Recycling Programs

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Oil

    Ron Gagnon

    DEM

    401-222-4700 


    Oil

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Paint

    RIRRC 

    401-942-1430 


    Paper

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Pay-As-You-Throw

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Plastics

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Public Education

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Recycling Facility Permitting / Registration

    Alyson Brunelli

    DEM

    401-222-4700 


    School Recycling

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Source Reduction

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Tires

    RIRRC

    401-942-1430 


    Toxics in Packaging

    Ann Battersby

    DEM

    401-222-4700 


    Universal Waste

    Nathan Arruda

    DEM

    401 222-4700


    Waste Bans / Mandatory Recycling

    Alyson Brunelli

    DEM

    401-222-4700

  • Business Assistance Guide

    Business Assistance Guide

  • Solid Waste Facilities

    Solid Waste Facilities

  • State Surplus Property Program

    State Surplus Property Program 

  • Compost Information

  • Municipal Recycling Program: A History

    1974: Created by RI General Assembly (RI Solid Waste Management Corporation)


    1981: Purchased Silvestri landfill in the Town of Johnston


    1986: RI Recycling Act became law (1st statewide mandatory recycling)


    1988: Materials Recycling Facility opened, first programs began


    1993: Phase I (original, unlined dump) closed


    1993: Phase II of Central Landfill begins (sanitary landfill, lined)


    1994: Municipal leaf and yard debris composting begins


    1995: First major Materials Recycling Facility expansion


    1995: Maximum Recycling program piloted in Foster and Scituate


    1996: Changed name to RI Resource Recovery Corporation


    1996: Signed agreement with EPA to cleanup Phase I


    1996: Maximum Recycling program implemented statewide


    1997: Landfill Expansion Phase III began


    1999: Landfill Expansion Phase IV began


    2001: Took over Eco‐Depot program for Household Hazardous Waste


    2003: Statewide e‐Waste recycling offered


    2004: Landfill Expansion Phase V began


    2005: ReStore program for recycling plastic bags and film began


    2006: Phase 1 cleanup successfully completed


    2011: Received Wildlife at Work certification from WHC


    2012: Second major Materials Recycling Facility expansion


    2012: Recycle Together RI program launched statewide


    2013: Received Gold Award in Recycling Systems from SWANA


    2015: Landfill Expansion Phase VI began


    2016: Implemented Recycle Across America standardized labels (1st state in the nation)


    2016: Received Biggest Safety Improvement Award from SWANA


    2018: Received Gold Award for Public Awareness Campaign from SWANA


    2019: Received Best of Rhode Island award from Rhode Island Monthly

  • Other Recycling Initiatives

    • Technical Assistance Waste Audits - Resource Recovery offers waste audits to any commercial or institutional waste generators who are interested in implementing a recycling or source reduction program.
    • Education and outreach programs for schools (tours, teachers aids etc.) - Resource Recovery offers facility tours to Rhode Island individuals, families, and groups at no charge. Educators are also available for presentations on source reduction, recycling, and composting to school classes and other organizations throughout the state.
    • Composting - Resource Recovery's subsidized home compost bin sales continue to be popular with state residents, as is the availability of staff for technical assistance.
    • Recycling Hotline - Resource Recovery has increased the promotion of its recycling question hotline, which receives hundreds of calls each week from RI residents on all aspects of their recycling programs.
    • Social Media - Resource Recovery has a social media presence through its Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages, and a YouTube channel. The YouTube channel features “How-To” videos about RI’s recycling program, as well a virtual tours of the Resource Recovery facility.
    • Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program (Eco-Depot) - In March of 2001, responsibility for the management of the Eco Depot Household Hazardous Waste Facility was transferred to RIRRC from RIDEM. The days and hours of operation were increased significantly, providing more flexibility for RI residents wishing to properly dispose of their HHW. Since 2001, Eco-Depot has collected more than 1 million pounds of HHW.
    • Standardized labels - In 2016, Rhode Island became the first state in the nation to adopt standardized recycling labels from national non-profit Recycle Across America. To date, there are over 85,000 labels on display on recycling bins across the state.

  • Materials Targeted in R.I.'s Municipal Recycling Programs

    Fiber:

    Examples: Corrugated cardboard (OCC) Mixed residential papers, Newspapers, Paper shopping bags, Magazines/catalogs, Small corrugated containers, Paperboard, Milk cartons/juice boxes


    Metal:

    Examples: Tinned steel cans, Aluminum cans, foil, plates, Empty aerosol cans 


    Glass bottles and Jars:

    Examples: Glass food/beverage containers


    Plastic Containers:

    Examples: PET containers up to 5 gallons, HDPE bottles and jugs up to 5 gallons, PP containers up to 5 gallons


     

Share by: