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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2485 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to solid waste management.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
The legislature also finds that the city and county of Honolulu has not identified any sites for a new landfill that the Honolulu board of water supply finds acceptable because the sites identified are located above aquifers and therefore development of a new landfill in those locations has the potential to contaminate ground water.
The legislature further finds that the United States Department of Defense holds that federal lands controlled by the military are not available for landfill use under federal rules.
The legislature further finds that if no alternate landfill site is identified, the city and county of Honolulu will be forced to pursue a legally prohibited expansion of the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill.
The legislature further finds that a new landfill on Oahu is inherently problematic and is not necessarily the best way that communities in the State can reduce and handle the solid waste produced by their linear extract, package, and throw-away economy.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a temporary working group in the office of the governor to address and inform policies and programs to reduce solid waste.
SECTION 2. (a) The governor shall convene a temporary solid waste management working group, whose membership shall comprise the following:
(1) A representative from the department of health;
(2) A representative from the department of environmental services of the city and county of Honolulu;
(3) A representative from each county, as designated by the mayor of that county;
(4) A representative from the Honolulu board of water supply;
(5) A representative from the recycling industry, to be invited by the governor;
(6) A representative from the composting industry, to be invited by the governor;
(7) A representative from the reuse industry, to be invited by the governor;
(8) A representative from the deconstruction industry, to be invited by the governor;
(9) A representative from Zero Waste USA, to be invited by the governor;
(10) A representative from a Hawaii-based environmental nonprofit organization advocating for zero waste priorities, to be invited by the governor;
(11) A landfill expert with specialization in landfill liner leakage, to be invited by the governor;
(12) An expert in unit-based pricing, to be invited by the governor;
(13) An expert in pyrolysis, to be invited by the governor;
(14) An expert in plasma arc gasification, to be invited by the governor; and
(15) A representative from the United States Armed Forces, to be invited by the governor.
(b) The first meeting of the solid waste management working group shall be convened by the governor, or the governor's designee. At the first meeting, the solid waste management working group shall elect a chair from among its members. The chair shall convene subsequent meetings of the working group.
(c) The solid waste management working group shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027. The report shall include:
(1) Information on materials management policies and programs that reduce solid waste and protect the environment, which includes the groundwater, earth, and air; and
(2) A list of alternative technologies to address solid waste management of waste that cannot typically be recycled or composted.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval and shall repeal on June 30, 2027.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Governor; Department of Health; Honolulu Board of Water Supply; Solid Waste Management; Working Group; Counties; Report
Description:
Establishes a temporary solid waste management working group in the Office of the Governor to examine materials management policies and programs that reduce solid waste and protect the environment, and to present a list of alternative technologies to address solid waste management. Requires a report to the Legislature. Repeals 6/30/2027.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.