STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3338

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1688

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1688, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Health to:

(A) Conduct a statewide needs assessment to determine what would be needed to transition to a more circular system with less waste generation, more reuse, and an extended producer responsibility program for packaging materials and paper products;

(B) Convene an advisory council to review the draft needs assessment and propose recommendations throughout the assessment process;

(C) Hold a public hearing to obtain comments on a draft needs assessment plan; and

(D) Complete and submit the needs assessment, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature by December 31, 2026; and

(2) Appropriate an unspecified amount of funds for the Department of Health to conduct the statewide needs assessment to inform the future establishment of an extended producer responsibility program.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Kauai Climate Action Coalition, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Product Stewardship Institute, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Just Zero, Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition, Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi, Citizens' Climate Lobby Hawaiʻi, Hawaii Environmental Change Agents Solid Waste Reduction Task Force, Zero Waste Hawaiʻi Island, and twelve individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from Recycle Hawaii, Clean the Pacific, and five individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Health, Chamber of Sustainable Commerce, and American Beverage Association.

Your Committees find that most packaging waste in the State is handled in a linear manner and that, under current practices, solid waste may soon exceed landfill capacity in all counties. Your Committees further find that additional resources, facilities, and services will be needed to address this issue. According to testimony received by your Committees, the needs assessment required in this measure is the first step to implementing an effective extender producer responsibility program to reuse and refill packaging materials, divert organic materials, and recycle paper waste.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Extending the deadline for the Department of Health to complete and submit the needs assessment to the Legislature from December 31, 2026, to December 31, 2027;

(2) Inserting an appropriation amount of $1,000,000; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Commerce and Consumer Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1688, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1688, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Commerce and Consumer Protection,

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair