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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>75256</law_id><section_number>15.2-935</section_number><catch_line>Authority to prohibit placement of leaves or grass clippings in landfills</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="15.2">Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Powers of Local Government</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="9">General Powers of Local Governments</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="2">Waste and Recycling</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">locality</span> may by <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> prohibit the disposal of leaves or grass clippings in any privately operated landfill within its <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>, provided such <span class="dictionary">locality</span> has implemented a <span class="dictionary">composting</span> program which is capable of handling all leaves and grass clippings generated within the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>. However, no such <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall contain provisions which penalize anyone other than the initial generator of such leaves or grass clippings. <a id="paragraph-270229" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-935/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> For purposes of this section, the term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">composting</span>&#x201D; means the manipulation of the natural aerobic process of decomposition of organic <span class="dictionary">materials</span> to increase the rate of decomposition. <a id="paragraph-270230" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-935/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any <span class="dictionary">locality</span> from prohibiting the disposal of leaves and grass clippings in any public landfill which it operates if that <span class="dictionary">locality</span> has implemented a <span class="dictionary">composting</span> program which is capable of handling all leaves and grass clippings generated within its <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>. <a id="paragraph-270231" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-935/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1990, c. 172, &#xA7; 15.1-11.5:1; 1992, c. 638; 1997, c. 587.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
