STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1680

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.C.R. No. 109

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.C.R. No. 109 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S SOLID WASTE SECTION TO DEVELOP A PLAN OF INITIATIVES FOR IMPROVED WASTE DIVERSION BY WORKING WITH THE COUNTIES TO ADDRESS EACH COUNTY'S UNIQUE NEEDS ACCORDING TO ITS GEOGRAPHY, POPULATION, AND INDUSTRY MAKE-UP,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Health's Solid Waste Section to develop a plan of initiatives for improved waste diversion by working with the counties to address each county's unique needs according to its geography, population, and industry make-up.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Iron Workers Stabilization Fund and International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers, Local Union No. 625, AFL-CIO. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that each county's solid waste management agency has autonomy within its county to negotiate, collect, recycle, reuse, or dispose of waste within the county in a manner that reflects that county's unique needs. Additionally, many of the counties' waste management plans and strategies may have statewide applications. This measure explores whether the State's landfill waste diversion initiatives may be more effective if each county's goals were to be incorporated into combined goals for all levels of government.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying and deleting certain findings;

(2) Requesting that the Department of Health's Solid Waste Section, subject to the availability of funding, to investigate strategies, rather than develop a plan of initiatives, for improved waste diversion in its work with the counties;

(3) Clarifying preliminary reporting requirements;

(4) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 109, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 109, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair