STAND. COM. REP. NO. 690

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 900
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, to
which was referred H.B. No. 900 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE RECYCLING OF BATTERIES
     AND TIRES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure the proper disposal of
lead batteries and tires by requiring a $10 core charge at the
point of purchase if no old battery or tire is exchanged by the
consumer.

     An individual testified in support of this bill.  The
Department of Health (DOH) supported the intent of this measure
but had reservations about its impact.  The Department of
Commerce and Consumer Affairs also expressed concerns.  The
Hawaii Automotive Repair and Gasoline Dealers Association opposed
this measure, and the Representative from the 21st District
(Waikiki, Ala Wai) offered comments.

     During the discussion, some testifiers indicated the need to
track the proper disposal of tires.  It was also pointed out that
customers tend to be more diligent about exchanging their tires
rather than their batteries, because special equipment is needed
to install new tires.  Finally, testifiers indicated that a
disposal fee already exists for tires but that there is no
disposal fee for batteries.


 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 690
                                 Page 2

 
     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this
bill by:

     (1)  Deleting the core charge requirement for old tires;

     (2)  Mandating a tracking system for used tires by
          requiring:

          (a)  Scrap tire haulers to provide evidence to the
               retailer of the proper disposal of used tires to a
               permitted tire processor or recycler;

          (b)  Motor vehicle tire retailers to require from scrap
               tire haulers evidence that their used tires are
               being disposed of through a permitted tire
               processor or recycler; and

          (c)  Motor vehicle tire retailers to maintain records
               of the disposal or recycling of their used tires
               for a minimum of three years, and to make the
               records available for review by DOH on request;

          and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the
          purpose of clarity.
 
     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection that is attached
to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of H.B. No. 900, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No.
900, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   HERMINA M. MORITA, Chair