STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1667

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 522

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 522, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PLASTIC,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Prohibit the purchase, use, sale, or distribution of plastic beverage bottles, utensils, stirring sticks, polystyrene foam containers, plastic bags, and straws by state and county agencies, restaurants, standard bars, and any other businesses or individuals;

(2) Establish a Plastic Source Reduction Working Group to formulate a plan for eliminating the use of single-use plastics, promote reuse, and find sustainable alternatives to current use and disposal of single-use plastics; and

(3) Establish the Solid Waste Prevention Coordinator position to support the Plastic Source Reduction Working Group and develop policy recommendations and programs to reduce solid waste, which will be funded by the Beverage Container Deposit Special Fund.

The Councilmember representing District 7 of Hawai‘i County; Animal Rights Hawai‘i; Pele Lani Farm LLC; Kihei Community Association; Surfrider Foundation Maui Chapter; Surfrider Foundation Hawaii Chapters; Aloha Hemp Company; Free Access Coalition; Sail Hawaii International LLC; Plastic Free Hawaii; Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii; Young Democrats of Hawaii; Gazoz; Sierra Club of Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Reef Ocean Coalition; One Ocean Conservation; Wipeout Crew; Gone For Milk; Americans for Democratic Action; Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii; Kona Brewing Co.; Kōkua Hawai‘i Foundation; Pioneer Saloon at Kakaako; Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund; Emergency Management Consulting & Construction, LLC Hawaii; Bean About Town LLC; Honolulu Chinese Jaycees; Dolphin Quest; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Ocean Friendly Restaurants Hawai‘i; Surfrider Foundation Kauai Chapter; Surfrider Foundation O‘ahu Chapter; Pono Home; and numerous individuals supported this measure. The Department of Health; The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Paradise Beverages, Inc.; Pacific Allied Products; Hawaiian Water and Packaging; Island Plastic Bags, Inc.; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Stadium Pho; Waiahole Poi Factory; Hibachi Kailua; Queen Street Cafe & Grill; ITO EN (Hawaii) LLC; ABC Stores; Pho Tri Restaurant; Retail Merchants of Hawaii; KYD, Inc. dba k. yamada distributors; Maui Soda & Ice Works, Ltd.; Shiro's Saimin Haven; Five Star Noodle Factory; Cajun King; Ezogiku; Infinitea; Ohana BBQ & Sushi; Cooke Street Diner; American Beverage Association; HNA Food Sevice LLC dba Tsukenjo's; Jets Fast Food; Nabeya Maido; American Chemistry Council; Reynolds Recycling; and many individuals opposed this measure. The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawai‘i Restaurant Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Zero Waste O‘ahu, and The Queen's Health Systems offered comments.

Your Committees have amended this measure by deleting proposed language that prohibits the purchase, use, sale, or distribution of plastic beverage bottles, utensils, stirring sticks, polystyrene foam containers, plastic bags, and straws by state and county agencies, restaurants, standard bars, and any other businesses or individuals.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 522, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Finance, in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 522, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary,

____________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair

____________________________ ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair