Rhode Island lawmakers are again weighing a state ban on high-heat waste facilities. The prohibition being considered by lawmakers would be for advanced recycling, chemical recycling, and any other facilities that “uses a thermochemical process to convert post-use polymers, plastic or recovered feedstock into fuels, chemical feedstocks, monomers, oligomers, hydrocarbons, waxes, lubricants, feedstocks fuels or hydrocarbons.”
It’s the third year House legislators are considering such a ban. While no such facilities currently exist in Rhode Island, the bill (H7357), introduced by Rep. Michelle McGaw, D-Portsmouth, would seek to outlaw so-called advanced recycling practices before they start. “This bill is a response to a move both nationally and here in Rhode Island to create a narrative that high-heat processing of our waste is somehow the answer to our waste disposal problems, including the growing plastic waste dilemma.” McGaw told the House Environment Committee on Thursday.
McGaw first introduced the bill outlawing advanced recycling in 2022, in direct response to enabling legislation introduced in the Senate by the late Sen. Frank Lombardo, D-Johnston, that would have exempted high-heat waste processing facilities from solid waste regulations. The legislation, which drew widespread criticism from environmental groups and advocates who called the advanced recycling process greenwashing, narrowly passed the Senate in a rare close vote, but ultimately stalled in the House.