A new Virginia executive order aims to decrease plastic pollution and reduce the amount of solid waste going to landfills. Governor Ralph Northam signed Executive Order Seventy-Seven Tuesday. According to a release from the governor’s office, the new order puts Virginia on a path to eliminate most single-use plastics at state agencies, colleges and universities, imposing a near-term ban on several common, but unnecessary disposable plastics and requiring the phase-out of other items by 2025. Gov. Northam made the announcement Tuesday at the 31st annual Environment Virginia Symposium hosted by the Virginia Military Institute.
“From landmark investments in renewable energy to bold action to tackle the climate crisis, Virginia is at the forefront of innovative efforts to protect our environment, and addressing the problem of plastic pollution is an important part of this work,” said Gov. Northam. “As a large producer of solid waste, the Commonwealth must lead by example and transition away from single-use disposable plastics to create a cleaner, more sustainable future for all Virginians.”
Because it isn’t biodegradable, most plastic ends up as litter on land and in water, harming fish and wildlife. Most types of plastic are not easily or economically recyclable. Less than 9% of plastics are recycled in the U.S., according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. That means 91% of plastic is disposed of in landfills or incinerators. Solid waste disposed of in these manners in Virginia has increased from two million tons per year in 2011 to 23 million tons a year today.