Bill Text: VA SB1319 | 2021 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Waste Diversion & Recycling Task Force; Department of Environmental Quality to continue Task Force.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-02-08 - Continued to Special Session 1 in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources by voice vote [SB1319 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2021-SB1319-Amended.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. §1. A. The Department of Environmental Quality (the Department) is requested to continue its Waste Diversion and Recycling Task Force (the Task Force) that was created pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution No. 42 (2020).
B. The Department shall add to the Task Force additional members with expertise as follows: (i) an expert on solid waste management and recycling at the academic or research level, residing within the Commonwealth, who shall be independent of and not associated with or employed by any public or private waste management entity or any advocacy group; (ii) a member of the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice, with expertise, training, or experience in the management and recycling of solid waste; (iii) a representative of a rural solid waste planning unit; (iv) a representative of an urban solid waste planning unit; (v) a representative of the Virginia Trucking Association; and (vi) a representative of an environmental advocacy group focusing on the management and recycling of solid waste. If the Director of the Department determines that an additional member would contribute to the deliberations of the Task Force, he may allow the participation of any additional member; such member shall have nonvoting privileges and shall not be counted for purposes of a quorum.
C. In addition to those topics of study identified in Senate Joint Resolution No. 42 (2020), the Task Force shall (i) further study available options to divert from landfills in the Commonwealth food residuals, organic waste, and baseline recyclables; (ii) conduct a meta-analysis or systematic review of the policies, legislation, practices, and programs proposed and implemented by other states and draw upon such programs in considering recommendations for waste diversion policies; (iii) examine Virginia's status as a prime destination for out-of-state trash and explore ways in which waste from other states can be diverted from Virginia's landfills; and (iv) investigate the role of a composting and food donation infrastructure in reducing the volume of waste that is accepted by landfills, including upgrading and refining existing food donation infrastructure, identifying food material and organic waste generators and haulers, comparing the use of in-house composting with regional composting hubs, studying the ideal distance between composting hubs and waste generators, considering the permitting of composting hubs, and exploring markets and systems for composting services and anaerobic digestion.
D. In developing its recommendations, the Task Force shall take guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Sustainable Materials Management Program Strategic Plan.
