STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1283

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   S.B. No. 178

      S.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 178, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to facilitate the reduction of food waste by requiring the Department of Education (DOE), in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH), to establish a three-year food waste recycling pilot project in one or more public schools.

 

     DOE supported this bill.  DOH opposed this bill.

 

     DOE projects that a food waste recycling operation, such as an on-site composting bin program that is contracted out to a private entity for three years, would cost approximately $100,000.  If existing DOE staff operates the composting bin program, the projected cost would be about $30,000.  However, DOE does not have the staff to segregate waste and operate the bin.  Your Committee finds that the funding and contracting or increasing DOE staffing issues surrounding the pilot project must be addressed and resolved before any meaningful action can be taken on this bill.

 

     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. 178, S.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair