STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1320

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.C.R. No. 77

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 77 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT DIVISION TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE BENEFITS AND COSTS TO IMPLEMENT EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY IN THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Health Environmental Management Division to conduct a study on the benefits and costs to implement extended producer responsibility in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, American Beverage Association, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, Zero Waste Oahu, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the high cost of recycling and the narrowing market for recyclable materials present an opportunity to pivot away from a reliance on individual recycling and toward a model that places more responsibility for the end-of-life management on the producer. This measure will explore the statewide benefits and costs of requiring producers to be responsible for the environmental and public health costs of their products to encourage better design for products and systems that reduce waste at the source and promote the reuse of more waste materials.

Your Committee notes the importance of considering possible sources of funding for the study, including the Deposit Beverage Container Deposit Special Fund and Environmental Management Special Fund.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the amount requested to be used by the Department of Health Environmental Management Division for the purposes of the study from $125,000 to $150,000.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 77, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 77, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair