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Across the United States:
- Americans generate 4.3 pounds of solid waste (MSW) every day, almost twice as much as (2.7 pounds) as in 1960.
- The percent of MSW going into landfills is steadily declining, due largely to recycling and energy generation applications. (In 1985, 82% went into landfills; in 1990, 67%; and in 1995, 58%.)
- The number of landfills has declined from about 20,000 in the early 1970’s to about 2,900 due mostly to stiffer EPA regulations and increased financial requirements.
Virginia is recognized today as being a national leader in managing MSW by:
- Adopting strict Solid Waste laws and regulations that apply to all landfills permitted after 1988. Virginia’s solid waste regulations exceed federal requirements and are as strict as any in the nation.
- Requiring tough enforcement from its Department of Environmental Quality.
- Recycling approximately 35% of its MSW, among the highest percentages of any state.
- Permitting commercial development has provided available landfill capacity from currently permitted landfills that can handle Virginia’s needs well into the future.
- MSW is a $550 million dollar industry in Virginia, creating more than 5,200 jobs.
- Virginia exports all of the toxic and hazardous solid waste it generates that is not incinerated.
- The solid waste industry is a “clean” industry in economic development terms, because it places no increased burden on state or local infrastructure.
- Indeed, Virginia’s commercial MSW industry is the only industry that operates under a zero-tolerance policy for any environmental pollution emissions.
- Yet, the number of landfills operating in Virginia has declined, from about 328 in 1987 to about 74 today.
- Fewer, larger landfills are providing sufficient capacity to handle Virginia’s total MSW needs.
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