Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2389 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to require state offices and buildings to create and implement plans for mandatory recycling.

The Department of Environmental Management for the County of Hawaii, the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, and two individuals testified in support of the bill. The Department of Health testified in opposition to the bill.

Your Committees find that this bill represents an important first step in educating the public as to the importance of recycling by requiring the State to take an active and visible leadership role in demonstrating the importance of conserving and protecting natural resources. By encouraging recycling in state government, a large amount of solid waste is diverted from taking up valuable space in Hawaii's dwindling landfills.

Your Committees have amended the bill to exclude county government agencies from having to implement a mandatory recycling plan.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2389, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2389, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.