HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	87
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to plastic bottles.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that single-use plastic bottles are a threat to the State's oceans and vulnerable marine ecosystems. Each year, more than 15,000,000 metric tons of plastic enter the world's oceans. Experts predict that by 2050, the amount of plastic in the ocean will outweigh fish, unless significant changes are made. The need for significant change in Hawaii was underscored in 2020, when the United States Environmental Protection Agency found that several of the State's beaches are "impaired by trash", with the majority of the pollutants comprising single-use plastics.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to prohibit the retail sale or offer for retail sale in the State of certain single-use plastic bottles.

SECTION 2. Section 342H-42, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§342H-42[]] Prohibition. (a) On or after January 1, 1992, no person shall manufacture, distribute, sell, or expose for sale in this State any plastic bottle or rigid plastic container unless the product has a label indicating the plastic resin used to produce the plastic bottle or rigid plastic container. The label shall consist of a number placed within a triangle of arrows and letters placed below the triangle. The triangle shall be equilateral, formed by three arrows curved at their midpoints and depicting a clockwise path around the code number. The numbers and letters used shall be as follows:

(1) For polyethylene terephthalate, the letters "PETE" and the number 1;

(2) For high density polyethylene, the letters "HDPE" and the number 2;

(3) For vinyl, the letter "V" and the number 3;

(4) For low density polyethylene, the letters "LDPE" and the number 4;

(5) For polypropylene, the letters "PP" and the number 5;

(6) For polystyrene, the letters "PS" and the number 6; and

(7) For any other, the letters "OTHER" and the number 7.

(b) On or after January 1, 2024, no person shall sell at retail or offer for retail sale in the State any plastic bottle designed to hold less than two liters of liquid for oral consumption, unless the liquid is to be used strictly for a medical purpose.

As used in this subsection, "medical purpose" means a purpose that is reasonably necessary for treatment of a person's illness, injury, or physical or mental health and may include over-the-counter and prescription liquids."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Plastic Bottles; Single-use Plastics; Prohibition

Description:

Effective January 1, 2024, prohibits the retail sale or offer for retail sale of single-use plastic bottles designed to hold less than two liters of liquid for oral consumption, unless the liquid is to be used for a medical purpose.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.