THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	230
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

Requesting the establishment of a task force to evaluate recycling options available to schools, including a feasibility report related to the establishment of a school recycling program in the State.

     WHEREAS, each student in the State of Hawaii produces about half a pound of waste every school day and this waste is transported, for a fee, to Hawaii landfills such as Waimanalo Gulch, which are approaching, or have already reached, capacity; and

     WHEREAS, every month schools use up to thirty‑one thousand cubic yards of landfill space at a cost of $6 per cubic yard; and

     WHEREAS, establishing school recycling programs would also benefit the environment; and

     WHEREAS, 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; moreover, recycling a single aluminum can reportedly conserve enough energy to power a television for six hours; and 

     WHEREAS, the Long Beach Unified School District in Los Angeles County, California, has adopted a recycling program that recycles solid waste, food waste, paper, aluminum, glass, plastic, and other materials, reducing spending by $310,000 per year; and

     WHEREAS, 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, while teaching students important recycling habits; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the House of Representatives concurring, that the University of Hawaii College of Social Sciences Public Policy Center is requested to convene a task force to evaluate recycling options available to schools and prepare a feasibility report on the establishment of a school recycling program in the State; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it is requested that the task force's evaluation of the available recycling options shall include but not be limited to a review of the use of reverse vending machine and the feasibility of providing recycling bins in schools throughout the State; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Dean of the College of Social Sciences is requested to appoint the task force members 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; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to 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 2009 Regular Session; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Dean of the University of Hawaii College of Social Sciences, Director of the University of Hawaii College of Social Sciences Public Policy Center, Chair of the Hawaii State Student Council, Superintendent of Education, Chair of the Board of Education, and Governor.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title: 

Establishment of Task Force; School Recycling Program; University of Hawaii College of Social Sciences; Public Policy Center