STAND. COM. REP. NO.  59-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2509

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 2509 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRONIC DEVICE RECYCLING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to encourage the recycling of electronic devices by directing the Department of Health to establish a program for collecting and recycling electronic devices.  The measure also:

     (1)  Allows electronic device manufacturers to implement their own collection and recycling plans for discarded devices, subject to approval;

     (2)  Creates a monitoring and enforcement mechanism for ensuring compliance with recycling plans;

     (3)  Establishes the electronic device recycling fund, which is funded in part by fees collected from manufacturers that sell electronic devices in the State; and

     (4)  Bans disposal of electronic devices in solid waste facilities beginning January 1, 2010.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the City and County of Honolulu, a member of the Hawaii County Council, and Hewlett Packard Corporation.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Health.  The Retail Merchants of Hawaii and Covanta Energy Group submitted comments on this measure.

     Your Committee finds that, although this measure focuses the recycling responsibilities on manufacturers of electronic devices, it also provides flexibility for manufacturers to meet their obligation to protect the environment.  The goal of this measure is to close the loop between electronic device manufacturers and consumers so that electronic devices, when discarded, are returned to the manufacturer for recycling.  The measure would reduce the amount of waste and potentially toxic materials entering the State's landfills and encourage greater recycling and reuse of valuable materials and component parts inside the electronic devices.

     Your Committee acknowledges that many details still need to be addressed before this measure may be enacted, including the costs of administering the program, added costs to manufacturers and consumers, and the measure's tangential effects on other industries such as retailing, manufacturing, and waste disposal.  However, your Committee is confident that these challenges can be overcome as the measure moves through the legislative process.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2509 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair