STAND. COM. REP. NO.  531

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   H.B. No. 620

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 620 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to protect the environment by:

 

     (1)  Prohibiting plastic products from being labeled as "biodegradable", "degradable", "decomposable", or "compostable", unless they meet ASTM D6400 specifications;

 

     (2)  Prohibiting plastic products from being labeled in any way to imply that they will biodegrade, decompose, break down, or fragment in a landfill or other environment, unless they meet ASTM D6400 specifications;

 

     (3)  Allowing plastic products that have been certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute to be labeled using the Biodegradable Products Institute's logo;

 

     (4)  Establishing penalties for violations of labeling provisions; and

 

     (5)  Requiring the Department of Health to adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to implement these provisions.

     The Surfrider Foundation, Surfrider Foundation Oahu Chapter, Conservation Council for Hawaii, Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii, Rise Above Plastics Coalition, and several concerned individuals supported the measure.  The Department of Health and Island Plastic Bags, Inc., testified in opposition.  Styrophobia and a concerned individual submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Limiting the labeling prohibition provision to prohibit a plastic product from being labeled as "compostable", unless it meets ASTM D6400 specifications;

 

     (2)  Prohibiting labeling that implies that a plastic product will biodegrade, decompose, break down, or fragment in a landfill or other environment, unless the product is certified by independent scientific laboratory testing to break down in a manner that is not harmful to the environment;

 

     (3)  Deleting the requirement that the Department of Health adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

 

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 620, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 620, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair