Bill requires public input for landfill plans

PROVIDENCE – A bill passed by the Rhode Island House would require public input on whether trash incineration should be allowed at the state landfill in Johnston.
H-6053A, introduced in March by Rep. Peter F. Kilmartin, D-Pawtucket, originally proposed reversing the 15-year-old state ban on incinerating garbage generated in Rhode Island. Under the bill, the state would have begun looking for a company to burn garbage at the Central Landfill to generate electricity.
The measure was amended to create a commission to study the issue, which aims to give nearby Johnston residents a voice in the matter. The amended version of the bill was approved by the House and referred to the Senate. The General Assembly will reconvene in the first week of September.
“We are extremely pleased with the formation of this study commission, rather than a completely new waste policy being forced upon the town of Johnston without local input. This process will allow residents the opportunity to evaluate whether or not a waste-to-energy program is beneficial to the community,” said Rep. Stephen R. Ucci, D-Johnston. &#8226