SB 184: RELATING TO THE DEPOSIT BEVERAGE CONTAINER PROGRAM.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO the DEPOSIT BEVERAGE CONTAINER PROGRAM.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 342G-105, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  The amount due from deposit beverage distributors shall be the net number of deposit beverage containers sold, donated, or transferred multiplied by the sum of the prevailing deposit beverage container fee and the refund value of [5 cents.] 10 cents.  Payment shall be made by check or money order payable to the "Department of Health, State of Hawaii".  All inventory reports and payments shall be made no later than the fifteenth day of the month following the end of the payment period of the previous month."

     SECTION 2.  Section 342G-110, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  [By January 1, 2005, every]  Every deposit beverage container sold in this State shall have a refund value of [5 cents.] 10 cents.  Each container shall have the refund value clearly indicated on it as provided in section 342G-112."

     SECTION 3.  Section 342G-111, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:

     "(f)  The amount due from a deposit beverage distributor shall be the net number of deposit beverage containers sold multiplied by the sum of the prevailing deposit beverage container fee and the deposit value of [5 cents.] 10 cents.  Payment shall be made by check or money order payable to the "Department of Health, State of Hawaii".  All reports and payments shall be made no later than the fifteenth day of the month following the end of the previous payment period."

     SECTION 4.  Section 342G-112, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  Subsection (a) shall not apply to any type of refillable glass deposit beverage container that has a brand name permanently marked on it and that has the equivalent of a refund value of at least [5 cents,] 10 cents, which is paid upon receipt of the container by a dealer or deposit beverage distributor."

     SECTION 5.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 6.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2026.

Report Title:

Deposit Beverage Container Program; Deposit and Refund Value; Increase

Description:

Increases the deposit and refund value for beverage containers from 5 cents to 10 cents under the deposit beverage container program.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 18

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 184

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 184 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPOSIT BEVERAGE CONTAINER PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the deposit and refund value for beverage containers from 5 cents to 10 cents under the state Deposit Beverage Container Program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the County of Kauaʻi Department of Public Works and Reynolds Recycling, Inc.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the American Beverage Association, Hawaii Food Industry Association, and four individuals.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that the Deposit Beverage Container Program (Program) is one of the most effective waste diversion programs in the State because it provides an incentive to recycle.  Although the Program had high redemption rates of nearly seventy-nine percent in 2009, recent redemption rates have been less than sixty percent.  Your Committee notes that after Oregon increased its refund fee from 5 cents to 10 cents in 2017, their recycling rate saw a significant increase from sixty-four percent to 90.5 percent.  Accordingly, increasing the State's refund fee for beverage containers would increase participation, reducing the amount of recyclable material currently landfilled.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 184 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,