The 1992 Session of the General Assembly passed House Joint Resolution 244, which authorized the establishment of a joint subcommittee to study and develop recommendations on legislative actions necessary to create or enhance end-use markets for recycled materials collected in the Commonwealth (see Appendix A). The work of the subcommittee was continued in 1993 under House Joint Resolution 466 (see Appendix B). During its two years of deliberations, the joint subcommittee was to develop recommendations for creating or stimulating Virginia markets for recyclable materials by: (i) reviewing the progress made by Virginia localities and private industry in developing recyclable material collection, processing and marketing infrastructure in response to state legislative mandates; (ii) reviewing the historical and projected trends for recycled materials markets in -the Mid-Atlantic region; (iii) reviewing and evaluating legislation enacted by other states to respond to the need to stimulate markets for recycled goods; (iv) reviewing and evaluating existing state legislation, regulations or administrative practices which may serve as an impediment to establishing or expanding a market for recycled goods in Virginia; (v) reviewing and evaluating efforts to assist industrial expansion and attract new industry to the Commonwealth where the industries affected would create new demand for difficult-to-market recyclable materials; (vi)examining proposals to increase government procurement of recycled goods, including a review of price preference and mandatory content requirements used in the public sector; and (vii) conducting a survey of existing Virginia industries to determine what types and volumes of raw (virgin and recycled) materials are used.

The joint subcommittee was composed of 11 members: four members of the House of Delegates; two members of the Senate; three citizen members, one each who represented consumer, local government and business community interests; the Executive Director of the Department of Waste Management or his designee; and a representative of the Virginia Department of Economic Development.