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2000 SESSION

000965432
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 133
Offered January 21, 2000
Establishing a joint subcommittee to examine strategies to reduce the amount of solid waste being deposited into landfills in the Commonwealth.
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Patrons-- Hanger and Bolling; Delegates: Dillard, Drake and Williams
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the amount of waste deposited in Virginia's landfills during the calendar year 1998 reached 12.8 million tons; and

WHEREAS, of the 12.8 million tons of waste disposed of in Virginia in 1998, 82 percent was deposited into landfills; and

WHEREAS, the environmental impact of a solid waste disposal system so heavily based upon the use of landfills is significant and there is considerable evidence that the current level of landfill use is not sustainable without severe adverse consequences; and

WHEREAS, Virginia's rapid growth and the increase of imported waste will only continue to exacerbate the current problem; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the General Assembly that, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, 25 percent of the solid waste generated in Virginia be recycled;

WHEREAS, there are a number of waste management strategies such as recycling and waste-to-energy systems that are underemployed in the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to examine strategies to reduce the amount of waste being deposited into landfills in the Commonwealth. The joint subcommittee shall be composed of 11 members, which shall include seven legislative members and four nonlegislative citizen members as follows: four members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker; three members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; two citizens to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and two citizens to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall specifically examine ways in which the Commonwealth can encourage the use of alternative waste management practices in order to meet the goal of a 25 percent reduction in the amount of waste deposited in Virginia landfills by the year 2005. The joint subcommittee shall make recommendations and provide options for regulatory or legislative actions that will meet the reduction goal.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $ 7,600.

The Division of Legislative Services shall provide staff support for the study. Technical assistance shall be provided by the Department of Environmental Quality. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2001 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.