REPORT Title:

Food Waste Recycling; Solid Waste

 

Description:

Requires the department of education, in a partnership with the department of health, to establish a three-year food waste recycling pilot project within public school districts.  Makes an environmental management special fund appropriation for this purpose.  (SB871 HD2)

 


THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

871

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to food waste recycling.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that waste disposal is an issue of critical importance throughout the islands.  Section 226-15, Hawaii Revised Statutes, declares that "it shall be the policy of this State to . . . [p]romote re-use and recycling to reduce solid and liquid wastes and employ a conservation ethic."

     The legislature further finds that state facilities and public schools are among the largest institutional generators of food waste, in spite of current recycling efforts.  Despite statewide policies, recycling efforts still reduce only a fraction of the solid and liquid waste generated.  Landfills on all islands are approaching or have already reached their maximum capacity, and both expansion of current landfills and relocation efforts are meeting widespread community opposition.

     Food waste recycling falls within the program elements of the integrated solid waste management plans under chapter 342G, Hawaii Revised Statutes.  Moneys to implement and administer this important state effort will come from the environmental management special fund.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish a three-year pilot project in one or more school districts, chosen by the department of education and in partnership with the department of health, for recycling food waste as part of the State's integrated solid waste management plans under chapter 342G, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     SECTION 2.  The department of education, in partnership with the department of health, shall develop and implement a three-year food waste recycling pilot project in one or more school districts that is in accordance with chapter 342G, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     The program sites shall be determined by the department of education as those most suitable in meeting the pilot project's objectives.

     The department of health shall cooperate with the department of education to develop and implement the components of the pilot project.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the environmental management special fund the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, to develop and implement a three-year food waste recycling pilot project in one or more public school districts.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  The department of education, with the assistance of the department of health, shall submit interim reports of the pilot project to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2008 and 2009, and a final report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2010.  The reports shall include information and recommendations about the efficacy of and the costs associated with the food waste recycling pilot project.  The final report shall also include a recommendation on whether the food waste recycling pilot project should be made permanent.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.