STAND. COM. REP. NO. 759

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1260

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1260 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RECYCLING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to promote glass recycling in the State.

     Specifically, this measure requires the Department of Health to:

(1)  Consider and perform a cost-benefit analysis on combining the glass container processing streams for the advance disposal fee under chapter 342G, part VII, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and the deposit beverage container fee under chapter 342G, part VIII, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2)  Update its glass recycling policies to:

(A)  Equally allow recycling and down-cycling of glass;

(B)  Clearly allow the stockpiling of glass for purposes of maintaining inventory;

(C)  Contain a complete list of approved down-cycling options; and

(D)  Allow glass as an alternative daily cover in down-cycling options;

(3)  Work with stakeholders to make practical policies and rules regarding the stockpiling of processed glass;

(4)  Increase the recovery rate for advance disposal fee glass containers to seventy-five per cent; and

(5)  Submit a report to the Legislature prior to the 2016 Regular Session.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of the Auditor and one concerned individual.  Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

     Your Committee finds that Auditor's Report No. 14-16 determined that the Department of Health was not committed to administering the non-deposit glass fee, had not established rules and goals for the advance disposal fee, and could not provide vital information to the Legislature on the performance of the advance disposal fee regarding glass containers.  This measure will help to provide vital information to the Legislature so that it may determine whether provisions of the advance disposal fee should be amended to further effectuate glass recycling in the State.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1260 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair