This measure aims to significantly decrease landfill-bound waste and greenhouse gas emissions by transforming how the community manages food scraps, recyclables, and other materials. By expanding access to composting, recycling, and hazardous waste programs for residents, businesses, and institutions, the measure supports a circular economy and promotes environmental equity. Financial incentives, updated ordinances, and targeted education will drive behavior change and participation. The measure also seeks to capture and beneficially use landfill gas, set ambitious diversion goals, and pilot zero-waste programs, positioning the region as a leader in sustainable waste management and climate action.

This measure is most appropriate for regional entities, localities, and private businesses.

KEY ACTIONS

NEAR TERM

1. Establish an equitable food waste composting program available to all residents either through on-site pickup or convenient drop-off locations. Key Actors: Localities, non-profits.
2. Promote public education on composting at home. Key Actors: Non-profits, regional entities, localities.
3. Make organic/food waste compost, recycling, and yard waste composting available to all businesses. Key Actors: Regional entities, localities, private businesses.
4. Establish on-site composting programs at schools to reduce food waste and educate kids about composting. Key Actors: Localities, non-profits.
5. Support large institutions, like universities, in establishing large-scale composting programs. Key Actors: Private businesses, localities, non-profits.
6. Pass ordinances to impose a tax on plastic bags, phase out polystyrene containers, and ban balloon releases, per state-enabling legislation. Key Actors: Localities
7. Require contractors on public projects to divert as much construction and demolition (C&D) waste as possible from landfills. Consider creating a list of recyclable elements that should be diverted and pilot adhering to it with municipal retrofits/new buildings. Key Actors: Regional entities, localities, private businesses
8. Identify what C&D materials can be recycled in the region. Explore options for those that are not easily recycled locally, including contracting with recycling facilities outside of the region or attracting private businesses to fill market gaps. Key Actors: Regional entities, localities, private businesses.
9. Expand public curbside recycling to areas not currently served. Where completely infeasible, increase the proximity of drop-off locations to facilitate participation. Key Actors: Localities, regional entities.
10. Mandate that multifamily buildings of a certain size have recycling (and eventually composting) options on-site. Key Actors: Localities
    
11. Establish permanent hazardous waste (e-cycle) drop-off locations for residents. Improve public understanding of what can be recycled and where. Key Actors: Regional entities, localities, non-profits, private businesses.
12. Contract with organizations like PCs for People or Tech for Troops to recycle e-waste from localities, school systems, and corporate campuses. These organizations pick up decommissioned electronics, wipe their data, and either refurbish or recycle them, as appropriate. By selling the refurbished components to underserved markets, they help extend tools to those who otherwise would not be able to afford them. Key Actors: Regional entities, localities, non-profits, private businesses
13. Devise and implement public education campaigns and behavior-change programs to promote recycling and waste reduction. Key Actors: Regional entities, localities, non-profits
14. Commit to supporting CVWMA’s goal of diverting 80% MSW by 2050. Key Actors: Localities, private businesses
15. Adopt zero waste goals for localities/schools and provide model actions for employees to reduce waste. Key Actors: Localities, regional entities
    
16. Conduct feasibility studies to assess the potential at various landfills for the beneficial use of the collected gas, instead of flaring it. Potential uses could include refining the landfill gas to make Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) or using it to generate electricity. Key Actors: Localities, regional entities, private businesses, state agencies
17. Adopt zero waste goals for large public events, such as festivals, conventions, and concerts. Support and incentivize venues to adopt their own zero-waste policies. Key Actors: Localities, private businesses, non-profits.
18. Building on the award-winning pilot project at Henrico Doctor’s Hospital, work with hospital systems to recycle non-biohazardous materials. Hospital systems, research institutions, and pharmaceutical developers can also adopt waste management plans and institute procurement practices that reduce waste. Key Actors: Private businesses, regional entities

Outcomes

This measure seeks to lay the foundation for a local circular economy by evaluating how plastics, paper, and other materials can be collected and processed by local industries for reuse. Through comprehensive analysis of waste streams, materials flow, and current management practices, the measure will identify opportunities to reduce landfill disposal, recover valuable resources, and support new business models. By partnering with local businesses and exploring innovative reuse and recycling initiatives, the measure aims to strengthen regional manufacturing, reduce emissions, and create a more sustainable, resilient community.

This measure is most appropriate for private businesses, regional entities, and localities.

KEY ACTIONS

NEAR TERM

1. Conduct a comprehensive analysis of waste generation, composition, and management practices across the MSA to identify areas for improvement and opportunities for waste reduction. Key Actors: Regional entities, private businesses.
2. Assess current woody material disposal practices and develop initiatives to increase the reuse of woody materials, such as creating mulch, compost, or bioenergy. Key Actors: Localities, regional entities, non-profits
3. Support efforts to establish a regional circular economy for rare earth minerals. Identify potential locations for hubs where electronics waste could be collected, disassembled, and refined for resale to support local manufacturing and improve the security of critical supply chains of national importance. Key Actors: Private businesses, non-profits, localities, regional entities
4. Investigate the feasibility and potential impact of container return programs for bottles, cans, and hard plastic containers. Key Actors: Regional entities, localities, state agencies
5. Work with paper and pulp producers to devise improvements to waste management and recycling programs that would ensure cleaner, higher volume recoverable materials stream for their use. Key Actors: Regional entities, private businesses
6. Educate and encourage institutions and businesses with large amounts of IT equipment to leverage free IT equipment return and/or recycling programs offered by major IT vendors (HPE, Dell, Oracle, IBM, Cisco, etc.). Key Actors: Private businesses, regional entities, non-profits, localities
7. Support and participate in re-use and secondary markets such as ReStores, Repair Cafés, the EPA & BCSD Materials Marketplace, Rheaply, or the VDEQ Business Exchange Program. Key Actors: Private businesses, localities, non-profits
   

VISIONARY

1. Study waste flow in and out of the region to better understand the impact of imported and exported waste. Key Actors: Regional entities, private businesses
2. Support emerging EV battery recycling market by attracting businesses that will collect and recycle EV batteries in the region. Key Actors: Localities, regional entities, private businesses

Outcomes

This measure focuses on improving the operational efficiency and sustainability of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) by targeting energy use and resource recovery. Through comprehensive energy audits, strategic retrofits, and the adoption of smart technologies, the measure aims to reduce energy consumption and operating costs. Additionally, it advances the capture and conversion of waste gases into renewable energy, supporting a transition toward self-sufficient and climate-friendly wastewater operations. Pilot programs and feasibility studies will further explore innovative solutions, such as biogas production, to maximize environmental and economic benefits for the region.

This measure is most appropriate for localities.

KEY ACTIONS

NEAR TERM

1. Complete energy audits on all facilities, identifying opportunities for energy retrofits across its facility portfolio, and integrate findings into capital improvement planning. Key Actors: Localities
   
2. Evaluate the benefits and feasibility of using a contracting method, such as an energy-savings performance contract or energy as a service, to bundle and fund (and potentially identify) energy retrofits. Key Actors: Localities
   

VISIONARY

1. Implement Smart Technology Upgrades. Some upgrades that could be implemented in regional facilities include advanced monitoring systems, automated controls, and energy-efficient machinery. Key Actors: Localities
2. Develop a comprehensive program to capture and convert waste gases from WWTPs into renewable energy sources, such as biogas, to reduce emissions and generate sustainable energy. Key Actors: Localities
   

Outcomes