STAND. COM. REP. 974

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 29

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 29, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SPECIAL WASTES RECYCLING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to protect our environment from the improper disposal of cathode ray tubes (CRTs) by requiring the Department of Health (DOH) to adopt rules for a Cathode Ray Tube Special Waste Disposal Program.

CRTs, which are found in outdated computer equipment and television sets, contain traces of lead, phosphorous, cadmium, barium, and mercury. These elements are hazardous and pose a serious environmental risk if CRTs are broken.

DOH, Sierra Club, Covanta Energy Group, Hawaii Chapter, Life of the Land, and several individuals testified in support of this measure.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Providing that no person may "knowingly" place a used CRT in a landfill, municipal solid waste landfill or incinerator, or in mixed municipal solid waste;

(2) Requiring the owner or operator of a landfill, solid waste disposal facility, or incinerator to:

(A) Post signs at the facility to inform customers that the disposal and combustion of CRTs are prohibited;

(B) Inform their customers about the prohibition of CRT disposal through written notification or contractual agreements, as determined by DOH; and

(C) Provide information to their customers about collection programs and facilities that are permitted to accept CRTs for recycling or disposal;

and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 29, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 29, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection,

 

____________________________

HERMINA M. MORITA, Chair