STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3479

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1642

H.D. 2

S.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 Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 1642, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO POSTCONSUMER RECYCLED CONTENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require deposit beverage distributors that sell, offer for sale, or distribute deposit beverage containers in the State to meet minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, one member of the Hawai‘i County Council, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition, and two individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Food Industry Association. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the American Beverage Association.

Your Committees find that minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements for deposit beverage containers are needed to reduce waste, transition the State toward a circular economy, and encourage interest in recycling among deposit beverage distributors. Additionally, a minimum postconsumer recycled content requirement will divert waste from landfills. This measure establishes minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements for deposit beverage containers to support the State's sustainability goals.

Your Committees have amended this measure by inserting a blank appropriation for the Department of Health to fund additional positions for the enforcement of deposit beverage recycling requirements.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1642, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1642, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair