Last year, the Washington D.C. City Council unanimously passed two key pieces of legislation: a styrofoam ban by food service businesses and a waste modernization bill.

According to the Sierra Club, "The bill establishes a clear priority for reuse and recycling over landfilling and incineration, requires separation of waste into recyclables, compostables, and trash, imposes strict reporting requirements for private haulers, and bans the disposal of a wide-range of electronic waste (e-waste). The bill also requires the government to develop a zero waste plan designed to move DC toward its goal of 80% waste diversion and leaves open the possibility of implementing a Pay as You Throw (PAYT) system, versions of which have contributed to major recycling gains in other cities."