Minimum recycling rate; reduction for municipal solid waste generated within a solid planning unit. (HJ620)

Introduced By

Del. Matthew James (D-Portsmouth) with support from co-patron Del. Joe Lindsey (D-Norfolk)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate

Description

Study; reduction of the minimum recycling rate for municipal solid waste generated within a solid waste planning unit; report. Requests the Secretary of Commerce and Trade and the Secretary of Natural Resources (the Secretaries) to jointly study a reduction of the minimum recycling rate for municipal solid waste generated within a solid waste planning unit. In conducting its study, the Secretaries are to (i) investigate the impact that China's reduced recyclable material contamination acceptance rate has had and is currently having on solid waste planning units in the Commonwealth; (ii) analyze the effect on the Commonwealth of reducing the minimum required recycling rate for solid waste planning units, including impacts to landfills, localities, ecosystems, and the economy; and (iii) propose one or more solutions to assist solid waste planning units and the Commonwealth as a whole, including recommending a specific reduction of the minimum recycling rate for municipal solid waste generated within a solid waste planning unit. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/04/2019Committee
01/04/2019Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/19 19101722D
01/04/2019Referred to Committee on Rules
01/17/2019Assigned Rules sub: Subcommittee #1
01/29/2019Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (7-Y 0-N)
02/05/2019Left in Rules

Comments

Ut Prosim writes:

In Roanoke, it presently costs the County $53/ton to process recyclables vs. $51.50/ton for general solid waste material. Many of us prefer to recycle, believing that the end result is more efficient. Current costs don’t bear out that conclusion. While a decision by China seems to have caused financial turmoil in the recycling industry, it is difficult to believe that the U.S. cannot introduce economies of scale within our borders to transport, recycle and dispose of our own garbage rather than depending on a country halfway around the world to use its cheap labor do it for us.