STAND. COM. REP. NO.406-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.B. No. 2723

H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2723, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COUNTIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to reduce solid and liquid waste levels and the pressure on the State's existing landfill sites by establishing a Food Waste Recycling Program (Recycling Program) at the county level.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this bill from the Department of Health (DOH), Hawaii Chapter of the Sierra Club, Hawaii's Thousand Friends, Eco-Feed, Inc., and Pacific Forums.

Your Committee has amended this bill as recommended by DOH which testified that certain program requirements might necessitate state funding under section 5 of article VIII of the State Constitution. Accordingly, your Committee has deleted the following provisions from the county Recycling Program:

(1) The counties shall approve recycling facilities for food waste;

(2) The counties shall "include" a food waste recycling program; and

 

(3) The counties shall require owners of specified types of food establishments arrange for separate collection of food waste and its recycling or delivery to a recycling facility.

As amended, this bill mandates that the county Recycling Program:

(1) Identify and assess levels of food waste reduction in the county through recycling and bioconversion;

(2) Identify and assess the type and amount of food waste technically and economically feasible to recycle or alter through bioconversion; and

(3) Identify and assess methods to increase and improve food waste recycling and bioconversion.

Your Committee has also made technical and nonsubstantive amendments to the bill for purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2723, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2723, H.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs,

 

____________________________

ERIC G. HAMAKAWA, Chair