STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3229

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 219

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 219 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO EXAMINE THE EXISTING WASTE TO ENERGY PROGRAM ON OAHU AS IT RELATES TO THE COLLECTION OF A DEDICATED RECYCLING STREAM OF PLASTICS FOR CONVERSION TO ENERGY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to examine the feasibility of recycling plastic waste by converting it to energy.

     Specifically, this measure requests the Legislative Reference Bureau with the cooperation of the Director of Environmental Services, the Recycling Coordinator of the City and County of Honolulu, and the Facility Manager of H-Power, to examine and report to the Legislature regarding the existing waste to energy program on Oahu as it relates to the collection of a dedicated recycling stream of plastics for conversion to energy.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawaii Food Industry Association, American Chemistry Council, and TSphere Energy.  Comments were submitted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

     Your Committees find that Oahu already operates a waste to energy facility at H-Power in Campbell Industrial Park and it is estimated that the island of Oahu uses, in addition to other plastic waste, 300,000,000 plastic bags annually.  Therefore, an abundant amount of plastic waste is available to be separated, collected, and recycled for possible use as an energy supply in the State's existing facility.

     Your Committees further find that plastics are made from petroleum derivatives and release high levels of energy when burned.  Thus, the conversion of plastic waste into energy can create an abundant amount of energy for electricity, while reducing the cost of municipal waste disposal and conserving landfill space.

     Your Committees have heard testimony that one ton of plastic could be converted to energy equal to approximately six barrels of oil.  Therefore, if found environmentally and economically feasible, the recycling of plastic waste for use as an energy supply may lessen Hawaii's dependence on imported energy sources while making the State a leader in waste-to-energy recycling.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 219 and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

____________________________ RON MENOR, Chair