Ceremonial signing held for food scraps bill

By The Associated Press

news@abc6.com

CHARLESTOWN, R.I. (AP) _ Rhode Island state officials have held a ceremonial bill signing for legislation that requires a limited number of food-scrap producers to divert the waste from the Central Landfill.

The legislation applies to institutions, including restaurants, colleges and universities, and food wholesaler and distributors, that produce 104 tons of organic material annually. But it’s only if there is a composting or anaerobic digestion facility within 15 miles.

Earth Care Farm in Charlestown is currently the only commercial-scale composting site in Rhode Island that takes food scraps. Another company is working to open an anaerobic digestion facility in Quonset Business Park in North Kingstown.

The requirement takes effect Jan. 1, 2016.

Gov. Lincoln Chafee was joined at Friday’s ceremony by the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Donna Walsh and Sen. Catherine Cool Rumsey, and others.

© The Associated Press/WLNE-TV 2014