STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2735

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2922

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2922, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOLID WASTE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to protect the environment and the community's health.  Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Prohibits the knowing incineration or disposal of fluorescent and compact fluorescent light bulbs in landfills, waste-to-energy facilities, and incinerators in the State; and

     (2)  Requires owners and operators of these facilities to post signs regarding this prohibition and to provide written notification to facility customers.

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by two organizations.  Testimony in opposition was submitted by one state agency and two county agencies.  Written testimony presented to the Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Compact fluorescent light bulbs, also known as CFL bulbs, are three times more efficient than standard incandescent light bulbs.  Your Committees find that consumers in Hawaii recognize the energy savings advantages of using CFL bulbs.  In 2007, 700,000 CFL bulbs were sold in Hawaii.  However, due to the content of mercury and lead in these bulbs, their disposal in landfills and waste-to-energy facilities releases hazardous materials into the environment.  Your Committees recognize the concerns of the state and county agencies in implementing a household disposal ban, and therefore recommend an additional recycling program be implemented through the retailers and wholesalers.  Presently, one retailer on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii offers a free take-back service for used CFL bulbs.  Your Committees believe that all consumers of CFL bulbs will benefit from a similar statewide program. 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring that retailers and wholesalers of fluorescent and compact fluorescent light bulbs take back and recycle used bulbs from customers at no charge;

     (2)  Requiring that retailers and wholesalers of fluorescent and compact fluorescent light bulbs provide information about the collection service and the Department of Health to the customers;

     (3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2010; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of style and clarity.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2922, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2922, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations.

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

____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair

____________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair