HCR 205: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON recyclable, biodegradable, and COMPOSTABLE LABELING IN THE STATE TO determine if the LABELING IS ACCURATE AND NON-DECEPTIVE.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	205
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON recyclable, biodegradable, and COMPOSTABLE LABELING IN THE STATE TO determine if the LABELING IS ACCURATE AND NON-DECEPTIVE.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, there is no national legislation or standard for recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable product labeling; and

 

     WHEREAS, consumers rely on product labeling, including symbols such as the "chasing arrows" triangle and biodegradable and compostable claims, to make informed decisions about recycling and composting; and

 

     WHEREAS, the chasing arrows symbol and biodegradable and compostable product labeling have long been a source of confusion for consumers; and

 

     WHEREAS, the chasing arrows symbol indicates the type of plastic resin used in a product and does not guarantee recyclability; and

 

     WHEREAS, recycling programs see high rates of contamination when items that are generally recyclable are mixed in with items that cannot be recycled; and

 

     WHEREAS, sorting through contaminated items is costly, and often leads to most items being sent to landfills, including materials that could have been recycled if they had been properly sorted; and

 

     WHEREAS, approximately ninety-eight percent of virgin plastics are made from fossil fuels; and

 

     WHEREAS, as renewable energy demand increases across the country, fossil fuel companies are seeking to recoup lost profits by increasing plastics production; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2019, plastics generated 3.4 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and these emissions are projected to increase significantly as plastics production expands, with the plastics industry expected to surpass coal-fired power plants as a major leading source of greenhouse gas emissions; and

 

     WHEREAS, addressing climate change requires reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including by decreasing the production of virgin plastics and increasing plastic recycling rates; and

 

     WHEREAS, most packaging or products labeled as biodegradable or compostable are designed to break down in industrial composting facilities and will not break down under home composting conditions; and

 

     WHEREAS, access to industrial composting facilities is limited, and, even where such facilities exist, food and yard waste are often prioritized over biodegradable and compostable packaging and products due to contamination risks and capacity constraints; and

 

     WHEREAS, as a result, biodegradable and compostable packaging and products often end up in landfills, which are not conducive to biodegrading or composting, leading to these materials either persisting or breaking down anaerobically, which can produce greenhouse gas emissions; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Health is requested to conduct a study on recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable labeling in the State to determine if the labeling is accurate and non-deceptive; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study includes:

 

     (1)  An assessment of products sold or distributed in Hawaii that have the chasing arrows symbol, including an evaluation of the types of such products that are or are not actually recyclable in the State;

 

     (2)  An assessment of products sold or distributed in Hawaii that are labeled as biodegradable, including an evaluation of the types of such products that are or are not actually biodegradable in the State;

 

     (3)  An assessment of products sold or distributed in Hawaii that are labeled as compostable, including an evaluation of the types of such products that are or are not actually compostable in the State;

 

     (4)  An examination of the distinction between home compostable and industrial compostable products, and whether such products meet recognized industry standards, such as ASTM International standards for compostability;

 

     (5)  An analysis of the gaps between consumer expectations, product labeling practices, and actual recycling and composting capabilities and outcomes in the State;

 

     (6)  An analysis of common contaminants that may be introduced into the recycling stream, composting facilities, or the environment due to misleading or unclear recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable labeling;

 

     (7)  A review of existing standards, definitions, and labeling guidelines for recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable products, including but not limited to ASTM International standards, the Federal Trade Commission's Green Guides, and any relevant state or municipal guidelines; and

 

     (8)  Recommendations for recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable labeling standards or guidelines to enhance clarity, reduce contamination, and improve recycling and composting rates; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

DOH; Recyclable, Biodegradable, and Compostable Labeling; Study