Rhode Island General Laws Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-18.12-2. Definitions

(a) “Beverage container” means any sealable bottle, can, jar, or carton which contains a beverage.

(b) “Beverage retailer” means any person who engages in the sale of a beverage container to a consumer within the state, or any operator of a vending machine.

(c) “Beverage wholesaler” means any person who engages in the sale of beverage containers to beverage retailers in this state, including any brewer, manufacturer, or bottler who engages in the sales.

(d) “Beverages” include milk, juices, carbonated soft drinks, soda water, mineral water, beer, and other malt beverages, wine and wine coolers, and all other packaged liquors and liquid mixes.

(e) “Corporation” means the Rhode Island resource recovery corporation.

(f) “Department” means the department of environmental management.

(g) “Distributor establishments” means all sales outlets, stores, and shops located in this state that sell beverages to consumers, except merchants who sell prepared food or drink for consumption on the premises.

(h) “Recyclable” means recovered resources able to be reused in manufacturing, agriculture, power production, or other processes.

(i) “Recycling rate” means the percentage by weight of a particular beverage container that is recovered from municipal and/or commercial collection programs for recycling.  The recycling rate shall apply only to those beverages included in the state mandatory recycling program.

(j) “Reusable” means able to be refilled after proper processing on an economically feasible basis as a beverage container.