THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1227
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to food waste.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that waste disposal is an issue of critical importance throughout the islands.  The legislature further finds that even with current statewide policies, recycling efforts reduce only a fraction of the solid and liquid waste generated.  Landfills on all islands are approaching or have already reached their maximum capacity, and the expansion of current landfills and relocation efforts are meeting widespread community opposition.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to prohibit the use of landfills as a means of disposal or transfer for all commercial organic material waste.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 342G, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§342G‑    Disposal of commercial organic material waste; prohibition.  (a)  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any generator of commercial organic material shall not dispose of or transfer any solid waste to any landfill or waste-to-energy facility, or by incineration, in the State.

     (b)  Generators of commercial organic material restricted by the limitations of subsection (a) shall dispose of or transfer all waste rendered by means of donation, compost, anaerobic digestion, or animal feed.

     (c)  The prohibitions of this section shall not apply to special waste or waste created as a result of a natural disaster.

     (d)  For the purpose of this section, "commercial organic material" means any food material and vegetative material from any entity that generates more than one ton of those materials for solid waste disposal per week, but does not mean any material resulting from a residence or centralized dining facility."

     SECTION 3.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Commercial Organic Material; Solid Waste Ban; Landfills

 

 

Description:

Prohibits the disposal or transfer of commercial organic material waste in landfills in the State.  Requires all generators of commercial organic material to use alternative means of disposal, such as donation, compost, anaerobic digestion, or animal feed.

 

 

 

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