RD2 - Annual Report of the Virginia Recycling Markets Development Council


Executive Summary:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The legislation establishing the Virginia Recycling Markets Development Council (RMDC) requires it to report annually to the Governor and the General Assembly on its findings and recommendations. This Annual Report of the RMDC has been prepared to reflect its work, primarily for activity in CY 2002.

2002 ACTIVITIES OF THE RMDC - SUBCOMMITTEES

The RMDC continued to work on three issues:

· the justification for a full-time, statewide recycling markets development specialist position;
· a review of the mandated recycling rates; and
· the proposed establishment of waste surcharges to support recycling programs in the Commonwealth.

Based upon the reports submitted by the respective subcommittees and the overall work of the RMDC, the RMDC makes the following recommendations:

• Recycling Markets Development Specialist Position

The RMDC continues to support the concept of a position to support and promote recycling and recycling markets development at the state level. In light of budget shortfalls, employee layoffs, and the uncertain status of a solid waste surcharge, the RMDC recommends a new study be done incorporating these changed circumstances in CY 2003.

• Recycling Rates

Based upon information from the annual recycling rate reports for CY 2001 and from the recycling rate mandate survey, the RMDC recommends leaving the recycling mandate at its present level of 25 percent.

• Waste Disposal Fee or Surcharge

After reviewing all relevant issues and recognizing the overall need to encourage additional waste reduction and recycling in Virginia, the RMDC recommends support of a waste surcharge of $2.00 to $3.00 per ton on all solid waste disposal facilities that are required by § 10.1-1413.1 to report annual amounts of waste disposed. The full subcommittee report (Appendix 2) includes recommended uses of the collected funds.

• Recycling Equipment Tax Credits

The RMDC recommends that further study of the Virginia Recycling Equipment Tax Credit be done to determine the feasibility of expanding the recycling tax credit program to include more than manufacturing equipment.

In CY 2002, the Governor appointed new members to fill the vacant seats on the RMDC (RMDC membership – Appendix 1). The RMDC will continue its work to facilitate and to promote recycling in the Commonwealth in Calendar Year 2003.