HB 1326 Summary

• Establishes the Hawaii Zero Waste Initiative within the Department of Health with the goal of eliminating waste sent to landfills or incineration, prioritizing source reduction, reuse, refill, organic waste diversion, and recycling.

• Creates the Packaging Waste Advisory Council composed of representatives from state agencies, counties, community organizations, producers, recycling businesses, and packaging experts to advise on packaging reduction strategies.

• Permits producers to form a nonprofit Producer Responsibility Organization to provide recommendations on reducing and reusing packaging and determining necessary infrastructure to achieve packaging reduction goals.

• Requires the Department of Health to conduct a statewide needs assessment in collaboration with counties and stakeholders, then develop a producer-funded packaging reduction, reuse, and recycling program proposal targeting a 70% reduction in packaging waste by 2035.

• Appropriates funds for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 to establish and manage the Packaging Waste Advisory Council, with the Department of Health to submit draft legislation implementing the program by December 31, 2026.