STAND. COM. REP. NO. 802

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 178

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 178 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD WASTE RECYCLING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish a food waste recycling pilot project in one or more public schools.

     More specifically, this measure requires the Department of Education, in partnership with the Department of Health, to develop and implement a three-year food waste recycling pilot project in one or more public schools.  This measure also appropriates funds for the pilot project.

     Your Committee received one written comment on this measure.  The written comment may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that waste disposal is an issue of critical importance in Hawaii.  Landfills on all islands are approaching or have already reached their maximum capacities.  In addition, efforts to expand or relocate landfills are met with widespread opposition.  Your Committee also finds that public schools are among the largest institutional sources of food waste.  Your Committee further finds that current recycling efforts reduce only a fraction of the solid and liquid waste generated by schools.

     Your Committee amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2070, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 178, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 178, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair