HI HCR68

Urges Hawaii counties and the Department of Health to study expanding plastic recycling programs to include plastic bottle caps, which are currently non-recyclable in Hawaii because they are made of number 5 plastic while bottles are made of number 1 or 2 plastic.

Directs the study to examine program models from other states and regions, including successful programs in North and South Carolina that employ over 1,300 people and process 750 million pounds of plastic annually.

Notes that plastic caps from Hawaii currently can only be recycled through mail-in programs outside the state, such as Preserve Gimme 5 in New York, and that caps accumulate as litter on beaches and in marine environments.

Requires counties and the Department of Health to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2019 Regular Session convenes.

Requests transmission of certified copies to the mayors of each county and the Director of Health.