STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1068

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 523

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 523 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RECYCLING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require each state agency to reasonably provide and maintain onsite methods at its buildings and facilities for the collection of recyclable materials, including paper, plastics, and deposit beverage containers, and appropriate funds for that purpose.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the American Chemistry Council, Animal Rights Hawai‘i, Sierra Club of Hawai‘i, and three individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services and Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

     Your Committees find that increased access to recycling helps to prevent litter and reduce waste in landfills, oceans, and waterways.  This measure increases access to recycling by requiring recycling collection at all state buildings and facilities and requiring the collection receptacles to be located near solid waste disposal receptacles.

     Your Committees have heard the testimony of the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) regarding the potential high costs of implementing this measure at all state buildings and facilities.

     Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring the provision and maintenance of onsite methods for the collection of recyclable materials only at buildings and facilities managed, maintained, or serviced by DAGS; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     Your Committees request that DAGS provide your Committee on Ways and Means with estimates as to the actual cost of providing for the collection of recyclable materials, including paper, plastics, and deposit beverage containers, for recycling at its facilities, as well as suggestions of methods or technologies the State may utilize to reduce recycling costs.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 523, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 523, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Government Operations,

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair