HD74 - The Means and Methods of Providing for Safe, Economical and Efficient Disposal of Recycling Residues and Examining Tax Incentives to Encourage Recycling in the Commonwealth

  • Published: 1990
  • Author: Joint Subcommittee
  • Enabling Authority: House Joint Resolution 384 (Regular Session, 1989)

Executive Summary:
The Joint Subcommittee established pursuant to HJR 384 (189) held four meetings during the course of its study. At its first meeting, the Joint Subcommittee was briefed on the current state of scrap metal recycling in the Commonwealth, the concerns of scrap metal recyclers, and the type of tax incentives which have been enacted by Virginia and other states to encourage recycling.

At the Joint Subcommittee's second meeting, a representative of the scrap metal recycling industry in Virginia presented a detailed proposal designed to allow nonhazardous recycling residues generated by the industry to be deposited in landfills at tipping fees no greater than those charged for the disposal of nonhazardous municipal solid waste. The Joint Subcommittee also received testimony and proposals from individuals interested in promoting the recycling of oil.

The Joint Subcommittee's final two meetings consisted of work sessions to consider (i) the scrap metal recycling industry's proposal for recycling residues, (ii) tax incentives to encourage recycling, (iii) a requirement that plastic container products be labeled with a description of the type of plastic resin from which they are made, (iv) methods to encourage the recycling of lead acid batteries, (v) authorization for local governments to adopt ordinances granting the same price preference for the purchase of recycled paper as is currently given to the Commonwealth, (vi) means to assist local governments in complying with the recycling percentage mandates enacted by the 1989 Session of the General Assembly, (vii) a proposal designed to encourage recycling industries to locate in the Commonwealth, (viii) procurement and use of recycled products by state agencies, (ix) inclusion of recycling instruction in school curriculums, and (x) increased use of recycled materials in Department of Transportation construction projects.

After considering these proposals, the Joint Subcommittee developed the following recommendations:

1. That legislation be enacted which encourages landfills to accept nonhazardous recycling residues at reasonable tipping fees;

2. That the current litter tax be doubled in order to allow the Department of Waste Management to develop and implement a model recycling program serving one or more rural counties;

3. That all plastic container products sold or offered for sale in the Commonwealth should be labeled with information sufficient to determine the plastic resin used to produce the plastic container product;

4. That retailers and wholesalers of lead acid batteries should be required to take back used lead acid batteries from customers and that environmentally unsafe methods of disposing of such batteries be declared unlawful;

5. That legislation be enacted to allow localities to grant price preferences for the purchase of recycled paper to be used by any division, department, or agency of the local government;

6. That the Department of Waste Management be requested to identify current barriers to the procurement and use of recycled products by state agencies and to develop recommendations for removing such barriers;

7. That the Department of Education should develop guidelines for school recycling programs and include recycling instruction in school curriculums; and

8. That the Department of Transportation should use recycled materials in its construction projects.