R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-19.1-3: Declaration of purpose.

The purposes of this chapter shall be:

(1) To protect the environment and the public health and safety from the effects of the improper, inadequate, or unsound management of hazardous wastes;

(2) To establish a program of regulation over the storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal of hazardous wastes, without interrupting current regulation of industrial waste disposal;

(3) To encourage the development and utilization of industrial processes which generate smaller amounts of hazardous wastes and to encourage recovery and recycling of wastes; and

(4) To assure the safe and adequate management of hazardous wastes within Rhode Island.