Bill > SB684

This bill establishes the Virginia Recycling Development Center and the Virginia Recycling Infrastructure Fund to improve recycling and materials management across the Commonwealth, with a particular focus on "priority materials" such as waste tires, mattresses, and bulky waste (large discarded items like furniture and appliances). The Center will be responsible for statewide recycling planning, supporting and expanding local recycling infrastructure, administering grants and loans from the Fund, and facilitating "public-private partnerships" (collaborations between government and private companies) to develop recycling programs and infrastructure. It will also encourage "voluntary stewardship programs," which are privately led initiatives where manufacturers, retailers, and others can choose to participate in improving the collection and recycling of specific materials. The bill outlines powers and duties for the Center, including developing a statewide recycling plan with measurable goals, providing technical assistance, and identifying market development opportunities for recycled materials. The Virginia Recycling Infrastructure Fund will be a dedicated fund, supported by various sources including state appropriations and civil penalties, to finance eligible projects for local governments, public-private partnerships, certified voluntary stewardship programs, and other entities involved in recycling. The bill also establishes civil penalties for the illegal disposal of priority materials and for misrepresenting products as recycled or managed through certified programs, with these penalties going into the Fund to support cleanup and infrastructure development. Finally, the bill requires annual reporting from certified programs and fund recipients to the Center, and an annual statewide report from the Center to the General Assembly.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB684