HB 1646 Summary

• Prohibits sale or distribution of consumer goods with deceptive or misleading claims about recyclability, including products displaying chasing arrows symbols or recyclability statements unless they meet state recyclability standards.

• Requires the Department of Health to publish material characterization studies by January 1, 2024, and update every five years, identifying which material types are actually recyclable in Hawaii based on collection and processing data from facilities serving at least 60% of the state's population.

• Establishes recyclability standards requiring products to comply with APR Design Guide standards (for plastics), not contain PFAS substances at or above 100 parts per million, and demonstrate actual recycling rates of at least 75% or be collected by curbside programs in jurisdictions representing 60% of state population.

• Prohibits sale of products labeled as "compostable" or "biodegradable" unless they meet ASTM standards or equivalent certifications; requires compostable products to be approved organic inputs under USDA national organic program standards by January 1, 2026, and contain no more than 100 parts per million total organic fluorine.

• Effective date is July 1, 2022, with 18-month grace periods for manufacturers to comply with recyclability labeling requirements after the department publishes its first material characterization study.