Establishes Compost Fund to award grants related to reducing the amount of solid waste generated in the state.
H5195 creates a new state framework for composting and organic waste diversion. It establishes a solid waste disposal surcharge of $2 per ton on waste sent to refuse disposal facilities, with the surcharge collected by facility operators and transferred quarterly to the state treasurer beginning January 1, 2026. The bill creates three special, nonlapsing funds: a compost fund, a competitive composting and waste diversion grant fund, and a municipal waste diversion grant fund.
The compost fund would be used by the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) to support grants for reducing solid waste, food rescue, shell recovery, compost production and use, and illegal dumping prevention. After administrative costs, the compost fund’s revenue would be split evenly between competitive grants for eligible entities such as nonprofits, farmers, schools, businesses, and universities, and formula-based grants for municipalities. The bill also requires reporting to the General Assembly on grant awards, outcomes, and whether the surcharge should be adjusted in future years.
The bill would amend Title 42 of the Rhode Island General Laws by adding a new chapter on composting and organic waste diversion. It would impose a new disposal surcharge on solid waste processed at landfills, transfer stations, and similar facilities, and direct those revenues into dedicated state funds that cannot revert to the general fund. DEM and the General Treasurer would gain new administrative and reporting responsibilities, while municipalities and eligible organizations would gain access to grant funding for composting, food waste prevention, recycling-related infrastructure, and illegal dumping mitigation.
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the materials supplied. Based on the bill text, the measure is framed as an environmental and infrastructure investment intended to reduce landfill use, support climate goals, and expand composting capacity. The overall tone of the legislation is policy-driven and affirmative toward waste diversion and local environmental programs.
The main likely point of contention is the new $2-per-ton surcharge on solid waste disposal, which would raise costs for waste generators, haulers, and disposal facilities and could be passed through to customers. Another possible issue is how the surcharge revenue is allocated, since the bill directs funds away from the general fund and into dedicated grant programs. Questions may also arise over administrative burden, grant distribution priorities, and whether the surcharge could affect municipal budgets, private haulers, or disposal pricing in Rhode Island.