HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1577

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO COMPOSTING.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the department of education produces a large amount of rubbish and waste from two hundred sixty-five schools across the State, which significantly impacts the State's environment and finances.

     The legislature further finds that on-site campus composting programs involving students have been extremely successful in providing a beneficial method of waste diversion.  These programs foster learning about scientific principles and social practices while allowing students to take responsibility for the amount of waste generated.

     The legislature believes that a demonstration of the effectiveness of on-site campus composting allows students to see the relationships between food waste, composting, nutrient cycling, healthy soils, and local food production.  This is a natural extension of the legislature's commitment to increasing garden- and farm-based opportunities and is one of five pillars of the department of agriculture's Hawaii farm to school program, established by Act 218, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015.  Proper guidance from the departments of health and education regarding campus composting would increase the safety of existing programs while expanding opportunities for new programs in state schools.

     The legislature finds that developing a statewide model for on-site campus composting provides a way to reach the Aloha+ challenge waste reduction goals, increase local food production, and promote natural resource management.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish composting grant pilot projects in department of education schools to:

     (1)  Address opportunities for waste diversion;

     (2)  Engage students to learn about different composting methods;

     (3)  Develop nutrient-rich soil for school gardens and local agricultural endeavors;

     (4)  Decrease the amount of methane-producing waste being dumped in landfills;

     (5)  Decrease the overall trash hauling cost to taxpayers; and

     (6)  Develop campus composting guidelines in conjunction with department of health rules for system-wide guidance.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The department of education shall issue grants pursuant to the recommendation of the composting grant pilot project working group.

     (b)  The department of education shall establish the composting grant pilot project working group, and shall invite the following members or their designees to participate in the working group:

     (1)  The superintendent of education;

     (2)  A representative of the department of education, facilities branch;

     (3)  A representative of the department of education, office of curriculum, instruction, and student support;

     (4)  A representative of the department of health, sanitation branch;

     (5)  The Hawaii farm to school coordinator in the department of agriculture;

     (6)  The dean of the University of Hawaii at Manoa college of tropical agriculture and human resources;

     (7)  A representative of the Kokua Hawaii Foundation;

     (8)  An experienced school composting program leader; and

     (9)  A volunteer member of the community.

     (c)  The composting grant pilot project working group shall:

     (1)  In conjunction with the department of health, develop guidelines and provide oversight for campus composting, which shall include leachate monitoring, pathogen testing, involvement of community members, development of a fire plan, material categorization, and volume recording;

     (2)  Consider multiple composting and fermentation techniques that can be tested and monitored for effectiveness in schools of varying sizes, such as bokashi for meats, dairy products, and bones; vermicomposting for vegetable wastes; hot composting for vegetative wastes; and aerated compost tea and vermicast tea for soil amendments;

     (3)  Establish networks and relationships with local farms and piggeries that may be able to accept surplus food waste; and

     (4)  Make recommendations to the department of education regarding the issuance of grants to schools pursuant to this section.

     (d)  The composting grant pilot project working group shall elect one of its members to serve as its chair.

     (e)  The composting grant pilot project working group shall be administratively attached to the department of education, which shall provide support staff for the composting grant pilot project working group.

     (f)  Members of the composting grant pilot project working group shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, including travel expenses, incurred during the performance of their duties.

     (g)  No member of the composting grant pilot project working group shall be made subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because of that member's participation on the composting grant pilot project working group.

            (h)  The composting grant pilot project working group shall submit a report to the legislature with its findings and recommendations no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2018 and each regular session thereafter.

     (i)  The department of education shall adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 91, to implement the composting grant pilot project.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 to establish and implement the composting grant pilot project.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on January 28, 2081.


 


 

Report Title:

Department of Education; Composting Pilot Project; Working Group; Established; Appropriation

 

Description:

Authorizes the department of education to issue grants to establish a composting grant pilot project in schools operated by the department.  Establishes a composting grant pilot project working group.  Requires report to legislature.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 1/28/2081.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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