HB 1688 Summary

• Requires the Department of Health to conduct a statewide needs assessment by December 31, 2027 to determine infrastructure, resources, and policies needed for transitioning Hawaii to a circular waste system with extended producer responsibility for packaging materials and paper products.

• Mandates establishment of an advisory council with representatives from county waste departments, producers, recyclers, retailers, waste management organizations, environmental justice groups, Native Hawaiian communities, and scientific experts to review the assessment and propose recommendations.

• Assessment must evaluate waste characterization, collection infrastructure, processing facilities, markets for recovered materials, education effectiveness, packaging composition impacts, extended producer responsibility programs in other jurisdictions, and equity considerations.

• Appropriates $1,000,000 from general revenues for fiscal year 2024-2025 to conduct the needs assessment and declares the state general fund expenditure ceiling will be exceeded.

• Takes effect July 1, 3000 (appears to contain a typographical error in the effective date).