HI HR54

Urges Hawaii counties and the Department of Health to study expanding plastic recycling programs to include plastic bottle caps, which are currently not recyclable in Hawaii.

Plastic caps made of number five plastic (polypropylene) cannot be recycled with bottles made of number one or two plastic, and currently accumulate as litter on beaches and in marine environments.

References successful plastic recycling programs in North and South Carolina that employ over 1,300 people and process more than 750 million pounds of plastic annually, as well as companies like Aveda and Green Tree Plastics that successfully recycle plastic caps.

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

Directs certified copies of the resolution to be transmitted to all county mayors and the Director of Health.