STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2522

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2841

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2841 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPOSIT BEVERAGE CONTAINER PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require retail dealers with more than 75,000 square feet of retail space to operate redemption centers under the Deposit Beverage Container Program.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Health, Department of Environmental Services of the City and County of Honolulu, Sierra Club, and Conservation Council for Hawai‘i.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Retail Merchants of Hawaii and Hawaii Food Industry Association.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will increase the opportunities for beverage container deposit redemption, therefore making it more convenient for consumers to participate in the Deposit Beverage Container Program.

     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. 2841 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

RON MENOR, Chair