SR 73: requesting the city and county of honolulu to consider developing a facility to discard LITHIUM-ION batteries.

SENATE RESOLUTION

requesting the city and county of honolulu to consider developing a facility to discard LITHIUM-ION batteries.

     WHEREAS, lithium-ion batteries pose significant environmental and public safety risks when damaged or improperly disposed of, including fire and explosion hazards in landfills and waste processing facilities; and

     WHEREAS, despite laws regulating the disposal of lithium-ion batteries, many are improperly discarded and end up in landfills or other inappropriate parts of the solid waste system; and

     WHEREAS, the improper disposal of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries creates unnecessary safety hazards for workers and surrounding residents, while also posing environmental threats to the State's land and water resources, including the aquifer; and

     WHEREAS, Act 209, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025 (Act 209), established the Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling and Reuse Working Group to examine how to maximize the recycling and reuse of electric vehicle batteries and recommend electric vehicle battery management practices; and

     WHEREAS, the Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling and Reuse Working Group included representatives from various sectors throughout the electric vehicle battery industry, including researchers, policymakers, manufacturers, shippers, and end-of-life recycling facilities; and

     WHEREAS, Act 209 received broad support from the electric vehicle battery industry to address the complex risks associated with electric vehicle batteries, including fire hazards from lithium-ion batteries; and

     WHEREAS, establishing accessible, safe, and properly managed lithium-ion battery disposal infrastructure at the county level would reduce fire risks, protect environmental resources, and support the responsible management of end-of-life batteries; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the City and County of Honolulu is requested to consider developing a facility to discard lithium-ion batteries, including but not limited to developing a wet shredding facility in conjunction with the Honolulu Program of Waste Energy Recovery (H-POWER) to discard lithium-ion batteries or electric vehicle batteries for end-of-life use; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chief Energy Officer of the Hawaii State Energy Office, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, Chairperson of the Honolulu City Council, and Director of the Department of Environmental Services of the City and County of Honolulu.

Report Title: 

City and County of Honolulu; Lithium-ion Batteries; Facility; Discard; H-POWER