THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

97

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO WORK WITH THE Hawaii Food Industry Association TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF REQUIRING THE BACKHAUL OF SHIPPING MATERIALS AND PALLETS BY LARGE "BIG BOX" RETAILERS AND WHOLESALERS.

 

 

WHEREAS, the State's landfills are near capacity in all counties, and it has become more difficult to site new landfills in the State; and

WHEREAS, our "throw-away" culture encourages the use of excess materials in the packaging of products; and

WHEREAS, the methods used to pack and ship products to Hawaii are material intensive; and

WHEREAS, this excessive packaging is most apparent in the operations of large "big box" retail and wholesale stores that are being established on all islands in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, recycling and all other current initiatives do not divert a sufficient amount of solid waste to meaningfully extend the life of the State's landfills; and

WHEREAS, the State must now refocus on solid waste management issues in order to avert a health and environmental catastrophe; and

WHEREAS, large "big box" retailers and wholesalers are in the best position to absorb the cost of back hauling and should do their part in sending their packaging material back to the place of origin or to wherever the recycling centers are; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, that the Department of Health is requested to work with the Hawaii Food Industry Association to determine the feasibility of requiring large "big box" retailers and wholesalers to backhaul packaging, crating, insulation, pallets, and other accommodating materials used for shipping, including:

(1) Consulting with shipping and container companies to gauge the costs of such an effort; and

(2) Determining what is currently being done to dispose of these materials and developing solutions to reduce the volume of shipping materials being used; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2005; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health and the Hawaii Food Industry Association.

Report Title:

Backhauling of Shipping Materials By Big Box Retailers.