STAND. COM. REP. NO. 50

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 87

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 87 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PLASTIC BOTTLES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to, beginning January 1, 2024, prohibit the retail sale or offer for retail sale of single-use plastic bottles designed to hold less than two liters of liquid for oral consumption, unless the liquid is to be used for a medical purpose.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and five individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Retail Merchants of Hawaii, International Bottled Water Association, Hawaii Liquor Wholesalers Association, American Beverage Association, American Chemistry Council, Plastics Industry Association, The Association of Plastic Recyclers, Toell USA, Randolph Sheppard Vendors of Hawaii, Wine Institute, and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Health, Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii, Animal Policy Group, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that single-use plastic bottles are a threat to the State's oceans and vulnerable marine ecosystems. The need for significant change in Hawaii was underscored in 2020, when the United States Environmental Protection Agency found that several of the State's beaches are "impaired by trash", with most of the pollutants comprising single-use plastics. This measure incrementally lessens the environmental impacts of single-use plastics on the State's environment and moves the State toward a more sustainable future.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that effective January 1, 2024, the retail sale or offer for retail sale of single-use plastic bottles designed to hold less than two liters of bottled water for oral consumption is prohibited in the State, with certain exceptions;

(2) Amending the exceptions to the prohibition;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of 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 H.B. No. 87, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 87, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair