STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2700

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2485

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2485, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a temporary working group in the Office of the Governor to inform policies and programs to reduce solid waste.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Board of Water Supply, Energy Justice Network, Hawaii Farmers Union, and Simonpietri Enterprises.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from Reworld.

Your Committee finds that the permit for the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill in Kapolei is set to expire in 2028. Your Committee further finds that the City and County of Honolulu has not yet secured an alternative site for a new landfill. Your Committee recognizes that failing to establish a new landfill could force further expansion of the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill, and that there is a pressing need to reduce the volume of waste that is produced. Accordingly, your Committee finds that by informing policies that help to reduce solid waste statewide, this measure will help limit the State's need for new landfills.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2485, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair