THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

206

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

URGING THE COUNTIES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A RESIDENTIAL CURBSIDE RECYCLING PROGRAM.

 

WHEREAS, in 1991, a statewide comprehensive solid waste management policy was adopted through chapter 342G, Hawaii Revised Statutes, with the primary goal of reducing and managing the solid waste stream within our State; and

WHEREAS, this statewide policy was a first step toward protecting our limited natural resources; and

WHEREAS, the statewide policy encourages state and county governments to develop solid waste management plans and implement programs that focus on waste stream reduction, through -- among other methods -- recycling; and

WHEREAS, despite this policy the State's landfills are near capacity in all counties, thus creating a health and environmental emergency crisis; and

WHEREAS, the implementation of a recycling program would decrease the demand for landfill use. In the United States, recycling, including composting, diverted 130 million cubic yards of material away from landfills and incinerators in 1996. In 2005, the diversion rate resulting from recycling and composting is projected to reach 195 million cubic yards; and

WHEREAS, the benefits of recycling are numerous:

    1. Saving at least 408 trillion BTU's in 1996, equivalent to four million households, and it is projected to save 605 trillion BTU's in 2005, equivalent to six million households;
    2. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by almost six hundred thousand metric tons of carbon equivalent;
    3. Producing valuable materials to industry worth $3.6 billion in 1996 and projected $5.2 billion in 2005; and
    4. Preventing emissions of pollutants known to be carcinogenic or toxic to humans; and

WHEREAS, the counties are key partners in the development of plans and implementation of solid waste management programs because they are the primary providers of solid waste collection and disposal services; and

WHEREAS, through chapter 342G, the counties are given the authority to implement and fund -- through a solid waste collection surcharge -- solid waste programs, including recycling; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the House of Representatives concurring, that the counties are requested and encouraged to develop and implement residential curbside recycling programs to support the State's goal of reducing the solid waste stream; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor, the Chairperson of the Council of each county, and the Director of Health.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Counties Development and Implementation of a Residential Curbside Recycling Program