The 1987 General Assembly adopted SJR 132, which created a joint subcommittee to study current and potential methods for solid waste volume reduction and recycling in the Commonwealth. The subcommittee was charged with the following duties:

1. to review existing public and private waste reduction programs and capabilities in Virginia;
2. to review governmental and private sector recycling programs;
3. to review waste volume reduction potential in the context of overall Virginia solid waste management initiatives;
4. to consider methods of assisting local governments in developing waste reduction programs, as well as methods of acquiring the cooperation of the general public;
5. to make recommendations to improve waste volume reduction and recycling in Virginia and to promote coordination between state agencies, private and public organizations, private industries, and local governments in this regard;
6. to make recommendations for incentives to promote waste volume reduction; and
7. to coordinate with and develop recommendations for the Department of Waste Management.

The study was initiated in recognition of the fact that Virginia, like mast other states, faces the di1nmn;r of how best to dispose of solid waste. Approximately 27,000 tons of solid waste are generated across the Commonwealth each day. Many local landfills around the state are reaching capacity as land mass to handle the ever-increasing flow of solid waste is becoming more scarce and the costs to properly manage the disposal of solid waste continue to rise.