STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1825

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 750

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 750, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to reduce the amount of waste that is deposited into Hawaii's landfills.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Authorizes the Department of Health to use moneys in the deposit beverage container deposit special fund to evaluate recyclable market development activities;

(2) Requires the Department of Health to conduct a statewide needs assessment for reducing waste generation, increasing reuse, and achieving related goals; and

(3) Amends the Electronic Device Recycling and Recovery Act to increase and facilitate electronic device recycling.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Poai Ke Aloha Aina: Center for Ancestral Circular Economy, and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Budget and Finance, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, Hawaii Environmental Change Agents (HECA) – Solid Waste Reduction Task Force, Consumer Technology Association, and Hawaii Food Industry Association.

Your Committee finds that the development of a statewide needs assessment to reduce waste, including electronic waste, will help reduce the quantity of waste deposited into Hawaii's landfills and the harmful climate impacts of waste materials.

Your Committee acknowledges the concerns raised in written comments regarding Part II of the measure, amending the Electronic Device Recycling and Recovery Act. However, rather than deleting Part II from the measure, your Committee has retained the language to allow further discussion by a Committee on Conference, if one is convened on this measure.

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 H.B. No. 750, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair