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Rhode Island

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Rhode Island

Regulations and Bills

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Justin Short

Director of Gov’t Relations
[email protected]
(202) 662-8508

Abby Blocker

VP of State & Local Government Affairs
[email protected]
(202) 662-8511

R.I. Gen Laws Title 23, Ch. 18.11 Promotion of Paper Bag Usage; § 23-18.11-1 to § 23-18.11-6

Electronics Recycling Law – R.I. Gen Laws Title 23, Ch. 24.10 Electronic Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling Act; § 23-24.10-1 to § 23-24.10-17 (as amended by 2017 Rhode Island HB 6112 and 2017 Rhode Island SB 888)
RI Dept. of Environmental Management – Electronic Recycling homepage

State Metal Scrap Law
- Regulated Metals: R.I. Gen. Laws Title 6, Ch. 11.2 Purchase and Sale of Regulated Metals; § 6-11.2-1 to § 6-11.2-17
- Catalytic Converters (specifically included in Precious Metals laws): R.I. Gen. Laws Title 6, Chapter 11.1 Purchase and Sale of Precious Metals; § 6-11.1-1 to § 6-11.1-14 (as amended by 2022 RI HB 7751 / SB 2906, effective 06/30/22)
- Second-Hand Dealers: R.I. Gen. Laws Title 5, Ch. 21 Second-Hand Dealers; § 5-21-1 to § 5-21-2
Local Metal Scrap Law
- Providence Ordinance – Part II, Ch. 14, Article VII. Junk and Secondhand Dealers; § 14-127 to § 14-154
ReMA Summary of Rhode Island Metal Scrap Statute (Sept. 28, 2022)

R.I. Gen Laws Title 24, Ch. 14 Junkyard Control Act; § 24-14-1 to § 24-14-12

R.I. Gen Laws Title 23, Ch. 19.1 Hazardous Waste Management; § 23-19.1-1 to 23-19.1-33

Rhode Island DEM – RIPDES Stormwater Industrial Activity
Permit No. RIR500000 – Storm Water Discharge Associated with Industrial Activity
Effective: 05/03/19; Expires: 05/02/24
RIPDES Electronic Reporting to submit or revise a NOI or other forms

R.I. Gen Laws Title 23, Ch. 23-63 Vehicle Tire Storage and Recycling; § 23-63-1 to § 23-63-7
R.I. Gen Laws Title 37 Public Property and Works
- Chapter 37-15 Litter Control and Recycling
  - § 37-15-6 Littering Prohibited
  - § 37-15-7.1 Penalties – Used tires
- Chapter 37-15.1 Hard-to-Dispose Material – Control and Recycling; § 37-15.1-1 to § 37-15.1-11 (ReMA note: “hard-to-dispose of material” includes tires used on motorized vehicles and trailers.)
R.I. Gen Laws Title 42, Ch. 42-64; § 42-64-19 Trust funds. (ReMA note: includes tire site remediation account)
R.I. Gen Laws Title 44, Chapter 44-44 Taxation of Beverage Containers, Hard-to-Dispose Material and Litter Control Participation Permittee; § 44-44-1 to § 44-44-23
R.I. Gen Laws Title 5, Chapter 21 Second-Hand Dealers; § 5-21-1 to § 5-21-7 (ReMA note: includes requirements for local licensing and penalties for an “automobile junkyard”. Definition of “automobile junkyard” includes tires.)

R.I. Gen Laws Title 5, Chapter 21 Second-Hand Dealers; § 5-21-1 to § 5-21-7 (ReMA Note: includes requirements for local licensing and penalties for an “automobile junkyard”)
Catalytic Converters (specifically included in Precious Metals laws): R.I. Gen. Laws Title 6, Chapter 11.1 Purchase and Sale of Precious Metals; § 6-11.1-1 to § 6-11.1-14
R.I. Gen Laws Title 31 Motor and Other Vehicles
- Chapter 1 Definitions and General Code Provisions
  - § 31-1-19 Types of business. (ReMA Note: “wrecker” includes dismantler)
  - § 31-1-20 Established place of business.
- Chapter 3.1 Certificates of Title and Security Interests
  - § 31-3.1-17 Scrapping, dismantling or destroying vehicle.
  - § 31-3.1-25 Suspension or revocation of certificates.
- Chapter 4 Transfer of Vehicles
  - § 31-4-1 Expiration of registration by transfer of interest in vehicle – Disposition of plates.
  - § 31-4-8 Dismantled vehicles.
  - § 31-4-8.1 Penalties.
- Ch. 6, § 31-6-12 Business and special license fees. (ReMA Note: includes wrecker’s license)
- Chapter 8 Offenses Against Registration and Certificate of Title Laws
  - § 31-8-4 Suspension or revocation of registration or certificate of title.
  - § 31-8-6 Owner to return evidences of registration upon cancellation, suspension, or revocation.
- Ch. 33; § 31-33-14 Return of registration plates on disposing of vehicle.
- Chapter 46 Rhode Island Salvage Law; § 31-46-1 to § 31-46-7
R.I. Gen Laws Title 42, Ch. 14.2 Department of Business Regulation – Automobile Wrecking and Salvage Yards; §42-14.2-1 to § 42-14.2-21

R.I. Gen Laws Title 23, 24.9 Mercury Reduction and Education Act
- § 23-24.9-3 Definitions.
- § 23-24.9-7 Phase-out and exemptions.
- § 23-24.9-9 Disposal ban.
- § 23-24.9-10 Collection of mercury-added products.
- § 23-24.9-16 Violations.
- § 23-24.9-19 Mercury advisory working group.

R.I. Gen Laws Title 31, Ch. 22 Miscellaneous Rules
- § 31-22-13 Abandoned vehicles.
- § 31-22-14 Towing – Costs paid by owner. (includes payment of crushing fees)
- § 31-22-14.1 Towing – Accident scene.
- § 31-22-15 Lien for towing and storage charges.
- § 31-22-16 Sale to enforce lien.
- § 31-22-17 Notice of sale.
- § 31-22-18 Newspaper advertisement of sale.
R.I. Gen Laws Title 31, Ch. 42 Abandoned Motor Vehicles
- § 31-42-1 Definitions.
- § 31-42-4 Auction of abandoned motor vehicles.
- § 31-42-6 Unlicensed junkyards.
- § 31-42-7 Disposal to demolishers.
- § 31-42-8 Duties of demolishers.
- § 31-42-9 Unidentifiable motor vehicles and/or parts.
- § 31-42-11 Penalties – Costs.