Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1256, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to institute a beverage container fee program to promote recycling of glass, aluminum, and plastic beverage containers by placing a 2 cent refundable fee on all nondairy beverage containers.

The bill also establishes a 2 cent nonrefundable beverage container fee for beverage container distributors.

The bill establishes a refundable beverage container fee of 2 cents per container on all non-dairy beverages in glass, aluminum, and plastic bottles containing one gallon or less of a beverage. The beverage container distributor would pay the fee to the State, and each subsequent purchaser of the beverage container would pay the deposit to the seller. Consumers would get their fees back by returning the bottle to any store that sells beverage containers. Stores that sell beverage containers would have to operate a redemption center to take the bottle, give the consumer the refund, and then ensure that the bottle is recycled. There are certain exclusions from the mandatory redemption center requirement.

The bill also allows any person to establish an independent redemption center if the person obtains a permit as a solid waste management facility.

Your Committee finds that litter is a problem in Hawaii and is an eyesore for residents and visitors alike. Litter spoils our scenic vistas and degrades our quality of life. Switching to refundable bottles is one strategy that has been effective in other states in limiting the number of beverage containers that are casually discarded on the ground instead of properly disposed of.

Your Committee has amended this bill by making the amount of the refund blank, and by changing the starting date of the beverage container inventory reporting to October 1, 2050, for the purposes of promoting further discussion.

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 H.B. No. 1256, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1256, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.