STAND. COM. REP. NO. 567-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1585

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1585 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PLASTIC POLLUTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit:

(1) State agencies from purchasing or using polystyrene food-service containers;

(2) Vendors contracted through a state agency from selling, offering for sale, providing, or using polystyrene food-service containers at any site owned or leased by the State; and

(3) Polystyrene food-service containers from being sold, offered for sale, provided, or used at any state facility, state-authorized concession, state-sponsored or state-permitted event, or state program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from PlanIt Branding; Americans for Democratic Action; Kauai Climate Action Coalition; Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; and seven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the American Chemistry Council; Plastics Industry Association; Foodservice Packaging Institute; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that polystyrene foam is a major contributor to plastic waste and is composed of non-recyclable components. Your Committee recognizes that in order to decrease levels of plastic waste production, the State must curb the introduction of non-recyclable products, like polystyrene products, into the waste stream that ends up in landfills or requires incineration. Your Committee believes that this measure addresses this need by prohibiting polystyrene food-service containers from being purchased or used by state agencies or sold, provided, or used by state-contracted vendors or at state facilities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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. 1585, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1585, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair