STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1663-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: S.B. No. 3181

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 3181, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOLID WASTE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to continue in the State's efforts to recycle bottles and cans by amending parts of the Deposit Beverage Container Program (Program). Specifically, this bill:

(1) Amends the definition of "deposit beverage container" (container) by increasing the volume limit on metal containers to less than or equal to 68-fluid ounces;

(2) Eliminates the requirement for deposit beverage distributors to distinguish each container's manufacture location when calculating payment of fees for inventory reports and monthly reports;

(3) Prohibits refunds on containers that do not meet the definition of container and do not indicate the Hawaii refund value;

(4) Requires redemption center dealers to operate a redemption center for a minimum of 30 hours a week, of which 5 hours, shall be on a Saturday or Sunday;

(5) Allows consumers to request that refund values be computed by container count for loads of 200 containers or less;

(6) Allows redemption center dealers to refuse to pay refund values on containers that exhibit characteristics of having been previously processed or baled;

(7) Requires redemption centers to physically receive the deposit beverage containers to receive handling fees from the Department of Health (DOH); and

(8) Establishes penalties and fines for individuals who intend to defraud the Program through false or fraudulent reports or claims and diverts levied fines to the Deposit Beverage Container Deposit Special Fund (Special Fund).

The Conservation Council for Hawaii, Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, and Windward Ahupua'a Alliance testified in support of this bill. DOH, Reynolds Recycling, and RRR Recycling Services Hawaii supported this measure with amendments. The Hawaii Food Industry Association and Grocery Manufacturers Association opposed this measure.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Removing the provisions establishing penalties and fines and the requirement to deposit subsequent fines into the Special Fund;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3181, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3181, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

____________________________

DWIGHT TAKAMINE, Chair