SB3 - Bottle Bill.doc

THE SENATE

3

HAWAII SILVER LEGISLATURE, 2005

STATE OF HAWAII

S.B. NO.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO REQUIRING SUPERMARKETS TO REFUND RECYCLING DEPOSITS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE SILVER LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Residents complain that Hawaii’s bottle

1

recycling centers are inconvenient, scarce, and inaccessible.

2

Consumers also endure long lines during inconvenient hours.

3

Additionally, consumers who live in apartments or condos do not

4

have the space to store empty containers for very long. The

5

Silver Legislature finds that many individuals believe that they

6

should be able to return their cans and bottles to the store

7

where they were bought.

8

The original bottle bill included retail stores giving

9

refunds at their stores. However, this was taken out in order

10

to appease store owners. Retail stores do not want to store

11

empty containers because of the tremendous amount of space and

12

labor involved. In Hawaii’s tight land market, stores don’t

13

want to give up space where they could be selling their

14

products. Recycled containers are also dirty and attract bugs

15

and rodents if stored for too long.

16

In Hawaii, the law requires that stores send the 5-cent

17

deposits plus a non-refundable 1-cent handling fee to the State.

18

SB3 - Bottle Bill.doc

The State puts this money into a bank account which is used to

1

contract with recycling companies to set up redemption centers.

2

The public subsequently redeems their bottles and cans for cash

3

at these centers.

4

The Silver Legislature believes that the current system is

5

too bureaucratic and cumbersome for consumers. Therefore, the

6

purposes of this Act are to make recycling more convenient for

7

consumers and help create a cleaner environment by requiring

8

supermarkets to refund recycling deposits.

9

SECTION 2. There shall be a new system of redeeming

10

recyclable products as follows:

11

(1)

Supermarkets shall accept recyclable products and

12

refund deposits.

13

(2)

Consumers shall pay the deposit on recyclable

14

products, and upon return of such products to the

15

supermarket, the consumers shall be refunded their

16

full deposit.

17

(3)

Deposits paid for recyclable products that are not

18

redeemed by the supermarkets shall be used by the

19

supermarkets to pay for the recycling program,

20

including the purchase of reverse vending machines,

21

hiring extra staff, or supplying extra space for the

22

storage of the containers.

23

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

24