Prohibits the use of artificial turf as material to cover compacted solid waste at a sanitary landfill.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would make it illegal to use artificial turf as a covering material for compacted trash at Rhode Island's sanitary landfills. Currently, landfill operators sometimes use old or recycled artificial turf as an "alternative daily cover" — a material spread over layers of garbage at the end of each day to control odors, pests, and litter. This bill would prohibit that specific practice going forward.

The bill primarily affects the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, which manages the state's Central Landfill, as well as any other entities involved in landfill operations in Rhode Island. Supporters of similar measures in other states have raised concerns that artificial turf contains plastic fibers and potentially harmful chemicals that could break down over time and leach into the surrounding soil or groundwater. By banning this practice, the bill aims to prevent those materials from being buried permanently within the landfill environment.

At this stage, the bill has been introduced in the House and referred to the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee, which has recommended it be held for further study. This means the committee is not yet ready to move it forward for a full vote, and it will likely undergo additional review and discussion before any final action is taken. No changes to current landfill practices would occur unless and until the bill is passed into law.