RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that removing certain materials from the municipal solid waste stream will decrease the flow of solid waste into landfill facilities, aid in conservation and recovery of valuable resources, conserve energy, and increase the supply of reusable raw materials; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature further finds that recycling demonstrates the State's commitment to proper waste management, conservation of non-renewable natural resources, conservation of energy, extended landfill life, reduced long term landfill liability, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and promotion of a conservation ethic; and

WHEREAS, through Act 176, Session Laws of Hawaii 2002, the Legislature approved a deposit beverage container program to increase participation in recycling initiatives for specified deposit beverage containers by issuing a redeemable credit slip with a value not less than the container's refund value; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature also finds that there is an immediate need to increase participation in recycling programs through decreasing the cost of participation to both government and private citizens; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that the deposit beverage container program can work to promote the redemption of specified deposit beverage containers if the public finds the program accessible, convenient, and easy to understand; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature further finds that it is in the public interest to recycle segregated recyclable materials in state parks and recreation areas so that these materials may be reused rather than be disposed at landfills, and so these parks and recreational areas can be as litter-free as possible; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that popular Hawaii state parks are convenient places for the public to redeem specified deposit beverage containers; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources manages a variety of centralized services including maintenance and repair of state parks and facilities, that can be employed to set up and manage recycling activities in these areas; and

WHEREAS, establishing reverse vending machines in high usage state parks will help promote recycling, reduce litter, and thus help fulfill the purposes of the deposit beverage container legislation; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is urged to place reverse vending machines in state parks to support the deposit beverage container program established by Act 176, Session Laws of Hawaii 2002, in order to promote recycling and reduce litter; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to report to the Legislature, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2006, on the Department's progress in placing reverse vending machines in the most highly-used state parks, and any issues arising therefrom; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that by January 1, 2007, the Department of Land and Natural Resources should have in place reverse vending machines in the most heavily-utilized state parks; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

Report Title:

Beverage Container Deposit Program; State Parks