SB2774 SD2

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2774
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that every school day, each student throughout the State produces about half a pound of waste. This unnecessary amount of waste is then transported for a fee to Hawaii landfills such as Waimanalo gulch, which are approaching, or have already reached, capacity. Schools use up to thirty‑one thousand cubic yards of landfill space every month at a cost of $6 per cubic yard. Thus, the lack of comprehensive school recycling programs is costing the State up to $186,000 per month for schools to have trash picked up and disposed of at landfills. School recycling programs would reduce unnecessary spending on waste disposal and alleviate some of the spatial issues that landfills in Hawaii are currently facing.

The Long Beach Unified School District, located in Los Angeles County, California, has adopted a recycling program that recycles solid waste, food waste, paper, aluminum, glass, plastic, and other materials, and will reduce its spending by $310,000 per year. A similar recycling program in Hawaii schools could use compost from recycled food and green waste to fertilize plants, grass, and fields, save schools thousands in disposal fees, and teach students important recycling habits.

Reportedly, every ton of paper that is recycled saves seven thousand gallons of water, three hundred eighty gallons of oil, and enough electricity to power a house for six months; recycling a single aluminum can reportedly conserves enough energy to power a television for six hours. Financial benefits aside, establishing school recycling programs would also benefit the environment.

For the foregoing reasons, the purpose of this Act is to enact a recommendation from the thirty-fifth secondary student conference held on Oahu between November 28 and 30, 2007. The conference recommended that the department of education create a task force to evaluate recycling options available to schools, including a summary feasibility report related to the establishment of a school recycling program in the State.

SECTION 2. (a) There shall be established within the University of Hawaii college of social sciences public policy center a task force to conduct an evaluation of the recycling options available to schools as evidenced at a small number of pilot sites, including a summary feasibility report related to the establishment of a school recycling program, the use of reverse vending machines, and the feasibility of providing recycling bins in schools throughout the State.

(b) The dean of the college of social sciences shall appoint task force members without regard to section 26-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes, based on lists of candidates submitted by the department of education, the board of education, and the Hawaii state student council; provided that at least two task force members shall be students.

(c) Members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties under this Act, including travel.

(d) The task force shall submit a report to the legislature, including its findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2009.

(e) The task force shall cease to exist on June 30, 2009.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 to carry out the operations of the task force that are consistent with this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii college of social sciences public policy center for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.