State Specific Policy Resources: Virginia

Electronics Recycling

• Va. Code Ann. Title 10.1, Subtitle II, Ch. 14, Art. 3.6. Computer Recovery and Recycling Act; §10.1-1425.27 to § 10.1425.38
• VA Dept. of Environmental Quality - Computer and Electronics Recycling

Materials Theft

• Metals Theft Law (as amended by 2023 Virginia HB 2372 & SB 1135; effective July 1, 2023)
  • Va. Code Ann. Title 59.1, Ch. 9, Art. 4. Scrap Metal Purchasers; § 59.1-136.1 to § 59.1-136.7
  • Va. Code Ann. Title 18.2, Ch. 5, Art 7. Damage to and Tampering with Property
    • § 18.2-146. Breaking, injuring, defacing, destroying or preventing the operation of vehicle, aircraft or boat.
    • § 18.2-146.1. Unlawful purchase or sale of a catalytic converter from a motor vehicle exhaust system that has been detached from a motor vehicle; penalty.
• ISRI Summary of Virginia Metal Scrap Statute (August 30, 2023)

Scrap Yard / Junk Yard Zoning

• Va. Code Ann. Title 15.2, Subtitle I, Ch. 7, Art. 2, § 15.2-730. Civil penalties for violations of zoning ordinance. (ISRI Note: allows a county to establish civil penalties for violations of ordinances regulating the storage of junk and the repair of motor vehicles)
• Va. Code Ann. Title 15.2, Subtitle II, Ch. 9. General Powers of Local Governments
• Art. 1, § 15.2-903. Ordinances taxing and regulating "automobile graveyards," "junkyards," and certain vacant and abandoned property.
• Art. 5, § 15.2-973. Ordinances imposing license taxes on owners of certain motor vehicles. (ISRI Note: exempts vehicles in an "automobile graveyard" or in possession of a licensed junk dealer or motor vehicle dealer.)
• Va. Code. Ann. Title 33.2, Subtitle II, Ch. 8, § 33.2-804. Junkyards; penalty.

State Superfund (no SREA equivalent)

• Va. Code Ann. Title 10.1, Ch. 14. Virginia Waste Management Act; § 10.1-1400 to § 10.1-1458 (as amended by 2018 Virginia SB 218)
• Va. Code Ann. Title 10.1, Ch. 25. Virginia Environmental Emergency Response Fund; § 10.1-2500 to § 10.1-2503

Tire / Rubber

• Va. Code Ann. Title 2.2, Subtitle II, Part B, Ch. 43, Art. 2 § 2.2-4304. Joint and cooperative procurement. (ISRI note: subsection B.2. includes artificial turf and track surfaces in an exclusion from an exclusion)
• Va. Code Ann. Title 10.1, Subtitle II. Activities Administered by Other Entities
• Ch. 13, Art. 1, § 10.1-1308.1. Streamlined permitting process for qualified energy generators. (ISRI note: "municipal solid waste" excludes tires)
• Ch. 14. Virginia Waste Management Act
• Art. 1. General Provisions
• § 10.1-1400. Definitions. (ISRI note: "recycling residue" includes rubber and other nonmetallic substances remaining after a shredder has separated the ferrous and nonferrous metal from a motor vehicle)
• § 10.1-1404. Department continued; general powers. (ISRI note: Dept. of Waste Management authorized to permit technical assistance to localities regarding stockpiling of tires; authorizes localities to regulate stockpiling of tires)
• Art. 2, § 10.1-1413.1. Waste information and assessment program. (annual solid waste disposal report, includes tires as one of five identification categories)
• Art. 3. Littler Control and Recycling
• § 10.1-1418.2. Improper disposal of tires; exemption; penalty.
• § 10.1-1418.3. Liability for large waste tire pile fires; exclusions.
• § 10.1-1418.4. Removal of waste tire piles; cost recovery; right of entry.
• § 10.1-1418.5. Lien for waste tire pile removal.
• § 10.1-1422.1. Disposal of waste tires.
• § 10.1-1422.2. Recycling residues; testing.
• § 10.1-1422.3. Waste Tire Trust Fund established; use of moneys; purpose of Fund.
• § 10.1-1422.4. Partial reimbursement for waste tires; eligibility; promulgation of regulations.
• Art. 3.2, § 10.1-1425.8. Department of Transportation; authority and duty. (ISRI note: recycling research projects include use of ground rubber from used tires for road surfacing, resurfacing and sub-base materials)
• Va. Code Ann. Title 33.2, Subtitle II, Ch. 8, § 33.2-804. Junkyards; penalty. (ISRI note: "junk" includes rubber)
• Va. Code Ann. Title 46.2, Subtitle III, Ch. 10, Art. 4. Tires; § 46.2-1041 to § 46.2-1046
• Va. Code Ann. Title 58.1, Subtitle I, Ch. 6.1. Virginia Tire Recycling Fee; § 58.1-640 to § 58.1-644

Vehicle Detitling / Dismantling

• Va. Code Ann. Title 46.2 - Motor Vehicles
• Subtitle II, Chapter 6 - Titling and Registration of Motor Vehicles
• Art. 1, § 46.2-605. Altering or forging certificate of title, salvage/nonrepairable certificate, or registration card; penalty.
• Art. 2, § 46.2-635. Surrender of certificates for vehicles to be demolished; securing new title certificates. (ISRI Note: includes mercury switch requirements)
• Subtitle III, Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle and Equipment Safety
• Art. 10, § 46.2-1073. Engine or serial number illegible, removed, or obliterated.
• Art. 10, § 46.2-1088.6. Motor vehicle recording devices. (ISRI Note: ownership survives the sale of the vehicle to a nonbeneficial owner who does not possess and use the vehicle for normal transportation purposes, such as a salvage yard).
• Subtitle IV, Chapter 15 - Motor Vehicle Dealers
• § 46.2-1503. Motor Vehicle Dealer Board. (ISRI Note: includes a dealer primarily engaged in the motor vehicle salvage business)
• § 46.2-1575. Grounds for denying, suspending, or revoking licenses or certificates of dealer registration or qualification.
• Subtitle IV, Chapter 16 - Salvage, Nonrepairable, and Rebuilt Vehicles; § 46.2-1600 to § 46.2-1610 (as amended by 2017 Virginia HB 1687, 2017 Virginia SB 1069, and 2017 Virginia SB 950)
• Subtitle IV, Ch.19, § 46.2-1985. Grounds for denying, suspending, or revoking licenses or certificates of dealer registration or qualification.

Abandoned Vehicles

• Va. Code Ann. Title 46.2, Subtitle III, Ch. 12 - Abandoned, Immobilized, Unattended and Trespassing Vehicles; Parking.
• § 46.2-1203. Sale of vehicle at public auction; disposition of proceeds.
• § 46.2-1205. Disposition of inoperable abandoned vehicles.
• § 46.2-1206. Surrender of certificate of title, etc., where motor vehicle acquired for demolition; records to be kept by demolisher or scrap metal processor.
• § 46.2-1207. Certification of disposal; reimbursement of locality by Commissioner.

Mercury Switch Removal

• Va. Code Ann. Title 10.1, Subtitle II, Ch. 14, Art. 1, § 10.1-1402. Powers and duties of the Board. (ISRI Note: authorizes the Virginia Waste Management Board to adopt regulations for removal of mercury switches by vehicle demolishers)
• Va. Code Ann. Title 46.2, Subtitle II, Ch. 6, Art. 2, § 46.2-635. Surrender of certificates for vehicles to be demolished; securing new title certificates. (ISRI Note: includes mercury switch requirements)