STAND. COM. REP. NO. 556

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 895

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 895 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to update the State's integrated solid waste management priorities and goals to:

(1) Establish benchmarks for organic waste diversion; and

(2) Reflect the goal established in the Aloha+ Challenge to reduce the solid waste stream prior to disposal by seventy percent by 2030.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, West Maui Green Cycle, Zero Waste Maui, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Farmers Union United, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the State is committed to achieving certain sustainability goals, including a goal of reducing the solid waste stream. Although the State did not meet a goal to reduce the solid waste stream prior to disposal by fifty percent by January 1, 2000, it is imperative that the State continue to look for ways to reduce the solid waste stream through source reduction, recycling, bioconversion, landfill diversion, and organic waste diversion. This measure further demonstrates the State's commitment to a clean and healthy environment by establishing new benchmarks for organic waste diversion and updating certain goals to reduce the solid waste stream in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Including untreated wood waste under the definition of "organic waste";

(2) Clarifying the deadlines for reducing the organic waste stream in the State by certain entities;

(3) Deleting language that would have appropriated funds for the Department of Health to reimburse each county for the costs of incorporating organic waste diversion into the county's integrated solid waste management plan, as this measure seeks to clarify the counties' duties, rather than add new mandates;

(4) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments 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. 895, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 895, 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