STAND. COM. REP. NO. 294-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1526

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1526 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ORGANIC WASTE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require each county to incorporate into its next integrated solid waste management plan revision a plan to divert, by January 1, 2025, all organic waste produced within the county by facilities generating more than a minimum amount of organic waste per year; and

(2) Appropriate funds to reimburse the counties for incorporation of the new requirement into their plan revisions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action, Mulkern Landscaping and Nursery, Hawai‘i Food+ Policy, Malama Kaua‘i, Life of the Land, Hawai‘i SEED, and eighteen individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that organic material diverted from the State's solid waste stream can provide a steady supply of input material for the production of quality compost in each county. This measure will facilitate the production of compost as an agricultural input in the State and reduce organic materials in landfills and the production of methane gas emissions.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the definition of "organic waste";

(2) Moving the statutory amendment for organic waste diversion from section 342G-26(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes, to section 342G-26(c), Hawaii Revised Statutes, and removing the January 1, 2025, deadline;

(3) Requiring the Department of Health to determine the minimum amount of organic waste that must be generated by a facility to make that organic waste subject to the diversion requirement;

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2100, to encourage further discussion; and

(5) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of 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. 1526, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1526, 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,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair