STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3472

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1526

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 1526, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require each county to incorporate into its next integrated solid waste management plan revision a plan to divert all organic waste produced within the county by facilities generating more than a certain 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 Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, one member of the Hawai‘i County Council, Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action, Kauai Women's Caucus, Climate Protectors of Hawai‘i, and sixteen individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committees find that the production of waste in Hawaii poses a significant problem for the State. Importantly, waste requires the State to devote scarce land to the creation of new landfills and contributes to the expansion of existing landfills. However, organic waste can be used for other purposes, thereby reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills. This measure requires each county to incorporate plans for the management of organic waste into its next integrated solid waste management plan.

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. 1526, H.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Second Reading 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,

________________________________ SHARON MORIWAKI, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair