HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	40
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CREATE A TASK FORCE TO EVALUATE recycling options AND DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE RECYCLING PROGRAM.

     WHEREAS, each student throughout the State of Hawaii produces approximately one half of a pound of waste each school day; and

     WHEREAS, for every ton of paper that is recycled, seven thousand gallons of water, three hundred eighty gallons of oil, and enough electricity to power a house for six months is saved; and

     WHEREAS, even recycling one aluminum can produces enough energy to power a television for six hours; and

     WHEREAS, composting food or green waste to create mulch can decrease the amounts schools spend on fertilizer for maintenance of grounds and improves the life of plants; and

     WHEREAS, landfills in the State of Hawaii are approaching or have already reached capacity; and

     WHEREAS, schools in the State of Hawaii use an estimated thirty-one thousand cubic yards of landfill space every month at a cost of six dollars per cubic yard or one hundred eighty-six thousand dollars per month; and

     WHEREAS, the recycling of trash has the potential to:

     (1)  Reduce the amount of space used by schools in landfills, lowering schools' cost for disposing of trash and creating revenue from recycling; and

     (2)  Teach students the habit of recycling over the long term; and

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Student Conference has determined that the Long Beach Unified School District located in Los Angeles, California expects to save three hundred ten thousand dollars per year by adopting a program for recycling solid waste, food waste, paper, aluminum, glass, plastic, and other materials; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, that the Department of Education is respectfully urged to create a task force to evaluate recycling options and develop a comprehensive recycling program for schools in the State of Hawaii; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the Legislature, Board of Education, and the Superintendent of Education by July 1, 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education, Superintendent of Education, Department of Education complex area superintendents and secondary principals, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii State Student Council, and school community council chairs.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Keiki Caucus; Comprehensive Recycling Program; Student Conference