STAND. COM. REP. NO. 546

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1026

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 1026 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to reduce the amount of trash flowing into landfills and decrease the amount of litter on the beaches and in the ocean.

     The measure accomplishes this purpose by amending the deposit beverage container program to require that the program accept bottles that have a capacity of up to two liters (sixty-eight fluid ounces).  In addition, it requires redemption centers to remain open at least thirty hours per week, including at least five hours on Saturday or Sunday.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Sierra Club Hawaii Chapter and the Department of Environmental Management County of Hawaii.  Reynolds Recycling and Windward Ahupua‘a Alliance submitted testimony in support with comments.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health, the Hawaii Food Industry Association, The Pepsi Bottling Group, and the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that the deposit beverage container program has proven to be an overwhelming success for Hawaii's environment.  Your Committee further finds that the success rates will only increase with the addition of two-liter bottles to the program and extended hours of operation for redemption centers.  However, your Committee finds that extended hours may cause an undue hardship for redemption centers located in rural areas.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring redemption centers to be open at least thirty-five hours per week, of which not less than five hours shall be on a Saturday or Sunday and shall remain open until 7 p.m. on at least two weekdays; provided that the center is located in a high density area;

     (2)  Requiring that reverse vending machines are operational and accessible during the normal business hours of the center or store where it is located; and

     (3)  Making technical, non-substantive changes for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1026, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1026, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Environment,

____________________________

RON MENOR, Chair