STAND. COM. REP. NO. 983

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1242

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1242, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL GOALS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to update the State's waste disposal goal to reduce total solid waste prior to landfill disposal by seventy percent by 2030.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Department of Environmental Services of the City and County of Honolulu, Ulupono Initiative, and two individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Kokua Hawaii Foundation, Zero Waste Oahu, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, and thirty-seven individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Sierra Club of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds this measure, which is in response to recommendations made in the Office of the Auditor's Report Number 14-16, updates solid waste management goals set in place twenty-eight years ago.  The solid waste reduction goals in this measure are intended to support and align with the Aloha+ Challenge target of reducing Hawaii's total solid waste prior to disposal by 2030.  This measure reflects a statewide commitment to update sustainability goals that will improve resiliency and sustainability of natural and cultural resources in Hawaii.  Your Committee notes concerns raised in testimony from Zero Waste Oahu that this measure emphasizes landfill diversion rather than solid waste reduction.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that the goal of seventy percent reduction in solid waste by 2030 applies to total solid waste prior to disposal by any means, rather than only a reduction of waste prior to landfill disposal.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1242, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1242, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

 

 

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair