Requires the producer of artificial turf and turf infill sold or distributed in RI to report its chain of custody, from installation to use, repurposing, recycling and disposal to the department of environmental management.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would require companies that make or sell artificial turf and turf infill (the materials used to fill artificial turf fields, such as rubber pellets or sand) in Rhode Island to track and report detailed information about their products throughout the entire life of those products. Specifically, producers would need to report to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) how their products are installed, used, and ultimately repurposed, recycled, or thrown away.

The goal is to create a clearer picture — known as a "chain of custody" — of where artificial turf materials come from, where they go, and what happens to them at every stage. This kind of tracking is particularly relevant because some artificial turf materials, especially crumb rubber infill made from recycled tires, have raised environmental and health concerns related to chemicals they may contain.

This bill primarily affects businesses that manufacture or distribute artificial turf products in Rhode Island, as they would be responsible for collecting and submitting this tracking information to the state. It could also indirectly affect schools, municipalities, sports facilities, and other organizations that use artificial turf fields, since their fields would be part of the reported chain of custody. Rhode Island residents, particularly those living near facilities with artificial turf, could benefit from greater transparency about how these materials are managed and disposed of.

The bill has been introduced and referred to the Senate Environment and Agriculture Committee, meaning it is still in the early stages of the legislative process and has not yet been voted on.