SB 1518 (Lewis) expands the scope of the recycling programs supported by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to include beneficial use, defined as “the use or reuse of a material that otherwise would become solid waste in a manufacturing process or as landfill cover, aggregate substitute, fuel substitute, or fill material.”
The bill provides that any proposal for a certain type of local recycling grant shall be deemed to meet the eligibility requirements if it includes provisions to increase recycling for beneficial reuse through a public-private cooperative program. SB 1518 also changes from every four years to every two years the frequency in which localities and solid waste planning units serving populations of less than 100,000 are required to submit a recycling survey report.
VACo is interested in receiving any comments from localities with populations of less than 100,000 that might be affected by this provision.
The bill also directs DEQ to evaluate the effectiveness of state and local recycling programs and establishes a deadline of October 1, 2018, for a report with recommendations to be submitted to the General Assembly.
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VACo Contact: Larry Land, CAE