STAND. COM. REP. NO. 829-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2399

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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2399, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish an Extended Producer Responsibility Program;

(2) Require certain producers of fast-moving consumer goods to register with the Department of Health and pay an annual fee based on the amount of packaging volume the covered producer places on the market each calendar year;

(3) Establish the Extended Producer Responsibility Special Fund;

(4) Provide for the expenditure of monies from the Extended Producer Responsibility Special Fund for the creation of a report that assesses the resources needed to reduce the volume of packaging waste sent to landfills or power plants that burn municipal solid waste as a fuel by specified percentages by a date to be determined by rule; and

(5) Appropriate funds for the preparation of the countywide need assessments, administration of the Extended Producer Responsibility Program, and for hiring of one full-time equivalent position.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; one member of the Hawai‘i County Council; Department of Environmental Management of the County of Hawai‘i; Department of Environmental Management of the County of Maui; Big Island Reef Keepers Hui; PlasticFreeRestaurants.org; Recycle Hawai‘i; Clean the Pacific; Blue Ocean Warriors; Kauai Climate Action Coalition; Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition; Kauai Women's Caucus; 350Hawaii.org; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Sierra Club of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Island Group; Koko Kai Foods LLC, dba Koko Kai Coconut Yogurt; Cyanotech Corporation; Zero Waste Hawai‘i Island; Fair Wind Cruises; Island Naturals Markets; Volcano Precious Plastic; Sweet Cane Cafe; Zero Waste O‘ahu; Hana Hou Recycling; Chamber of Sustainable Commerce; Surfrider Foundation Hawai‘i Region; Hilo Downtown Improvement Association; Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action; Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund; Zero Waste USA; Mr. K's Recycle & Redemption Center Inc.; No Pohō; Pono Home; a sign-on letter by numerous businesses; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Island Plastic Bags Inc., Hawaii Food Industry Association, American Beverage Association, Wine Institute, Hawaiian Chip Company, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Consumer Healthcare Products Association, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, Animal Health Institute, American Chemistry Council, Maui Chamber of Commerce, Plastic Paradise, and one individual.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2399, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair