It is the policy of the Virginia Waste Management Board to require all designated regions, as well as each city, county and town not part of such a region, to develop comprehensive and integrated solid waste management plans (SWMP) that, at a minimum, consider and address all components of the following hierarchy: source reduction, reuse, recycling, resource recovery (waste-to-energy), incineration and landfilling.

Virginia has currently 71 solid waste planning units (SWPUs). These planning units must meet the requirements established in the Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Regulations. All planning units are required to maintain an approved solid waste management plan and also meet the mandatory recycling rate.

Solid waste planning units are also required to maintain current solid waste management plans containing a 20-year planning window. On or before each five-year anniversary of the SWMP’s approval date, the planning unit is required to submit a letter to DEQ certifying that the plan elements listed in 9VAC20-130-120.C have been maintained and updated.

The Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Regulations can be located here. 

New State Solid Waste Management Plan Under Development

DEQ received a Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant from EPA to develop a new Statewide Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP). Using the SWIFR Grant funding, DEQ hired Resource Recycling Services (RRS) to develop a modern statewide SWMP, replacing the 1979 version. 

The new Virginia Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is a comprehensive framework that defines the Commonwealth’s policies, goals, and objectives for resource recovery and solid waste disposal over the next twenty years. The plan covers the entire waste stream, from source reduction and reuse, to recycling and composting, to waste-to-energy and landfilling. The SWMP lays out current waste generation, management facility types and capacities, as well as serves as a reference for local governments. It provides strategic direction for how Virginia will manage materials more efficiently, reduce waste, and build a more resilient and sustainable system for future generations.

This plan represents a forward-looking blueprint for building a more sustainable, resilient, and economically vibrant materials management system. DEQ is in the process of finalizing the draft new SWMP prepared by RRS and is requesting input on the draft from the public and regulated community.  The public notice and the draft SWMP can be found at: Virginia Regulatory Town Hall View General Notice.