[Adopted 1-3-1995 by Ord. No. 95-1-3A]
A mandatory recycling program is hereby implemented in the Town of Portsmouth pursuant to R.I.G.L. §§ 23-18.8-1 et seq., 23-18.9-1 et seq. and 23-19-1 et seq. and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Municipal Recycling Regulations, as amended.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
MIXED RECYCLABLES
Those materials required to be removed from municipal solid waste at the source and delivered directly to the Town recycling facility or placed in or on top of the set out container provided by the Solid Waste Management Corporation for collection by a privately contracted hauler.
RECYCLABLE MATERIALS
Those separated from municipal solid waste for processing for reuse as specified by the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and listed in this article. The materials to be included may change from time to time depending upon new technologies, economic conditions, waste stream characteristics, environmental effects or mutual agreement between the state and municipalities.
RESIDENT
Anyone (including any business entity, regardless of organizational form) residing in the Town of Portsmouth for any period of time who generates solid waste for which the Town accepts disposal responsibility.
SOLID WASTE
Garbage, refuse and other discarded solid materials generated by residential, institutional, commercial, industrial and agricultural sources, but not including solids or dissolved material in domestic sewage or septage, nor hazardous waste as defined in the Hazardous Waste Management Act, R.I.G.L. § 23-19.1-1 et seq.
SOURCE SEPARATION
The removal by the generator of recyclable materials, including mixed recyclables, from all other solid waste generated by the resident and conveyance of the recyclable materials to the Town recycling facility or to the curbside for collection by a private hauler.
A. 
All residents are required to separate recyclable materials from residential solid waste and to deliver those materials directly to the Town recycling facility or to have them delivered to a Town or state recycling facility by a private hauler. This article does not, however, bar any residents from giving recyclable materials to a nonprofit organization.
B. 
The following materials are required to be separated from residential solid waste and delivered to a Town or state recycling facility:[1]
(1) 
Plastic containers, including but not limited to:
(a) 
Jars (peanut butter, mayo).
(b) 
Jugs (milk, juice, detergent).
(c) 
Tubs (ice cream, margarine).
(d) 
Bottles (soda, shampoo).
(e) 
Plastic takeout containers.
(f) 
Iced coffee cups.
(g) 
Yogurt containers.
(h) 
Plastic egg cartons.
(2) 
Glass containers, including but not limited to:
(a) 
Jars (sauce, jelly, baby food).
(b) 
Bottles (soda, wine, beer).
(3) 
Metal cans and foil, including but not limited to:
(a) 
Aluminum (cans, foil).
(b) 
Empty aerosol cans (hairspray, air freshener).
(c) 
Tin cans (soup, pet food).
(4) 
Paper and cardboard, including but not limited to:
(a) 
Newspaper.
(b) 
Phone books.
(c) 
Envelopes.
(d) 
Flattened boxes.
(e) 
Junk mail.
(f) 
Office paper.
(g) 
Spiral notebooks.
(h) 
Paperback books.
(i) 
Wrapping and tissue paper.
(j) 
Paper bags and gift bags.
(k) 
Magazines.
(l) 
Paper towel tubes.
(5) 
Cartons, including but not limited to:
(a) 
Milk and juice cartons.
(b) 
Soy milk cartons.
(c) 
Soup and broth cartons.
(d) 
Juice boxes.
(6) 
Other materials determined by the Department of Environmental Management to be recyclable in its Municipal Recycling Regulations, Section 4-1.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
C. 
All separated materials are to be delivered to a Town, state or state-designated recycling facility in a processable condition, i.e., at a minimum:
(1) 
All glass, plastic, steel/tin and aluminum containers shall be empty and rinsed;
(2) 
Aluminum foil shall be clean;
(3) 
Webbing shall be removed from aluminum furniture;
(4) 
No noncontainer glass shall be mixed with the recyclables;
(5) 
Newspapers shall be placed in a brown paper bag or tied in bundles with a string; and
(6) 
Any other requirements in DEM's Municipal Recycling Regulations, Appendix A, shall be met.
A. 
All qualified persons engaged in the business of collecting and hauling refuse and operating transfer stations for refuse generated within the boundaries of the Town of Portsmouth shall be licensed by the Town of Portsmouth, pursuant to R.I.G.L. § 23-18.9-1(b)(1).
B. 
Licensed haulers shall collect only that residential solid waste that is source-separated by the resident into the recyclable and nonrecyclable components.
C. 
Licensed haulers shall keep recyclable materials separate from nonrecyclable resident solid waste.
D. 
Licensed haulers shall maintain any separated recyclable materials that are delivered to either a Town or state recycling facility in processable condition.
E. 
Licensed haulers shall keep individual household recyclable materials separate from recyclables collected from commercial accounts.
F. 
Licensed haulers who deliver recyclables to a Town or state recycling facility shall deliver to said facility only recyclables generated by the Town of Portsmouth.
G. 
Licensed haulers shall deliver all recyclables designated to go to a Town or state recycling facility to said facility.
H. 
Licensed haulers shall file reports with the Town detailing the weight of each recyclable material collected in compliance with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management reporting program.
The separation of recyclables from solid waste shall be a condition of licensing or authorization of any public event, the conduct of which generates solid waste for which the Town of Portsmouth accepts disposal responsibility.
No person shall solicit the commercial collection of any recyclable material as defined this article within the Town of Portsmouth for personal gain, except as specifically authorized by the Town. The Town may issue permits to charitable organizations to collect recyclable materials on the condition that a report is filed by said organization detailing the weight of each material collected in compliance with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management reporting requirements and provided that the Town determines that said collection does not conflict with the Town's recycling program.
A. 
It shall be the duty of the Chief of Police of the Town of Portsmouth to enforce the provisions of this article.
B. 
Penalties for violation of this article shall be as follows:
(1) 
Residents violating § 326-28:
(a) 
First offense: written warning.
(b) 
Second offense: $25.
(c) 
Subsequent offense: $50.
(2) 
Haulers violating § 326-29:
(a) 
First offense: written warning.
(b) 
Second offense: $200.
(c) 
Subsequent offense: loss of license.