STAND. COM. REP. NO.  972-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2857

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2857, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect the environment and improve the Electronic Waste and Television Recycling and Recovery Act by extending recycling services to all islands, establishing recycling obligations for manufacturers of electronic devices and televisions based upon the weight of products sold in the State, establishing requirements to meet those obligations, and imposing penalties for noncompliance with recycling obligations and recycling plans.

The Department of Health, Department of Public Works of the County of Kauai, Department of Environmental Management of the County of Hawaii, Ulupono Initiative, and Hawaii Green Growth testified in support of this measure.  The Consumer Electronics Association and The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii testified in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Environmental Services of the City and County of Honolulu and Retail Merchants of Hawaii commented on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the manufacturer recycling obligations into recycling goals;

     (2)  Specifying requirements in the manufacturer recycling plan that there be at least one collection service in every zip code for counties with a population under 750,000, and at least one collection service in every county district for counties with a population of 750,000 or more, with certain exceptions;

     (3)  Changing the frequency of the provision of collection services to a minimum of a scheduled day once a month, regardless of island population;

     (4)  Requiring the Department of Health to provide collection services in zip codes or county districts that are not adequately covered by the plan of a manufacturer or group of manufacturers;

     (5)  Changing the penalty provisions to a fee that each electronic device and television manufacturer shall be subject to pay to cover the cost of the Department providing a collection service in zip codes or county districts that are not covered by the plan of a manufacturer or group of manufacturers; and

     (6)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 S.B. No. 2857, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2857, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair