STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1235-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

 

RE:   S.B. No. 3099

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 3099, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to improve solid waste management in the State by:

 

     (1)  Establishing and appropriating funds for a Plastics Recycling Grant Program to identify Hawaii-based alternatives for the sustainable recycling and reuse of plastic commodities within the State;

 

     (2)  Requiring the Department of Health to set benchmarks to reach an eighty-five percent redemption rate by January 1, 2023;

 

     (3)  Increasing the refund value for deposit beverage containers from five cents to ten cents; provided that the Department of Health determines that the redemption rate for deposit beverage containers remained below eighty percent for two consecutive calendar years;

 

     (4)  Requiring the Department of Health to provide annual reports to the Legislature on redemption rates, progress, and plans regarding the Deposit Beverage Container Program; and

 

     (5)  Appropriating funds for two positions for the Glass Advance Disposal Fee Program.

 

     The Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, The Outdoor Circle, Sierra Club of Hawaii, Aloha Shell Service, and many individuals supported this measure.  The American Beverage Association, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Ball Metal Beverage Packaging, The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and Grocery Manufacturers Association opposed this measure.  The Department of Health and International Bottled Water Association provided comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting language which would have increased the refund value for deposit beverage containers from five cents to ten cents if the Department of Health makes a determination that the redemption rate remained below eighty percent for two consecutive calendar years.

 

     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 S.B. No. 3099, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3099, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair