STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1412

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 1026

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns, to which was referred S.B. No. 1026, 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 protect the environment through recycling by:

(1)  Allowing 68 fluid ounce beverage bottles to be recycled under Hawaii's Deposit Beverage Container Program; and

     (2)  Making other amendments to improve the program.

     The Sierra Club and Windward Ahupuaa Alliance supported this bill.  Hawaii Food Industry Association opposed this measure.  Pepsi Bottling Group and Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Hawaii provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended the phase-in requirements of this bill to provide that beverage distributors have a three-month period to ensure that all 68 fluid ounce containers on retailer shelves are labeled with the Hawaii refund value before distributors become liable for the deposit and fee.

     Technical, nonsubstantive amendments have also been made for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1026, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1026, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair