Transcript Highlights:

• We are the solid waste manager for the City of Seattle.
• Our county solid waste program strongly supports the environmental goals of this bill to reduce litter
• Since well before I started as an environmental educator with Pierce County Solid Waste Program in 2006
• Our County Solid Waste Program strongly support the environmental goals of this bill to reduce litter
• Since well before I started as an environmental educator with Pierce County Solid Waste Program in 2006

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills, beginning with SB 5965 on retail bags. Staff explained that the bill would prohibit single-use plastic and reusable film plastic carryout bags, raise the paper bag pass-through charge from 8 cents to 20 cents, exempt certain assistance-program customers from bag charges, and add manufacturer/distributor penalties. The sponsor and supporters, including environmental groups, Seattle Public Utilities, Tacoma, county solid waste representatives, and health advocates, argued the current law has led to thicker plastic bags and more plastic pollution, microplastics, and recycling contamination. Opponents from hospitality, grocery, retail, paper, and plastic bag industries said the bill would raise costs, create checkout confusion, burden food delivery and takeout operations, and amount to a de facto ban on paper bags as well; several urged waiting for more data on the current 12-cent fee. The hearing ended with a reported 1,240 non-testifiers on SB 5965, with 541 pro, 695 con, and 4 other. The committee then heard SB 6030 on plastic bags. Staff said the bill would allow film plastic and paper carryout bags if they meet recycled-content standards, keep the paper bag fee at 8 cents, reduce the plastic bag fee from 12 cents to 8 cents, and remove the minimum thickness standards for reusable film plastic bags while retaining recycled-content requirements and the SNAP exemption. No public testimony was taken on the bill, and the chair noted 208 non-testifiers, with 192 pro, 11 con, and 5 other. Finally, the committee heard SB 5975 on lead in cookware. Staff described it as a third-round update to the state’s cookware lead law, narrowing covered cookware, delaying the 10 ppm lead standard to 2030, and allowing compliance through FDA or European testing methods. Supporters, including some industry representatives, said the current law is unclear and difficult to enforce, that a workable test is still being developed, and that the bill would provide certainty and avoid unintended coverage of safe products. Opponents from Ecology, Health, environmental groups, and consumer advocates argued the bill would weaken Washington’s existing protections, create broad exemptions, and allow high-lead cookware to remain on the market; they also criticized shifting from total-content testing to leach testing. The hearing closed with 609 non-testifiers on SB 5975, with 54 pro and 552 con.

Transcript Highlights:

• waste um commercial generator of solid waste um to<00:49:27.640><c> clarify</c><00:49:28.160><c> that
• The argument being solid waste tax rate.
• </c><00:51:13.440><c> is</c> commercial solid waste tax rate which is commercial solid waste tax rate
• </c><00:53:55.240><c> waste</c><00:53:55.440><c> management</c> it relates to the solid waste management
• </c> accurate solid waste tax definitions. accurate solid waste tax definitions.

Bills: HF495 , HF4321 , HF3902 , HF4161 , HF3755

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: day care, tax subtraction, child care costs, licensed child care, dependent care assistance, HF4321, dependent care assistance programs, gross income exclusion, federal conformity, Internal Revenue Code, individual income tax, Minnesota tax law, tax conformity, child care assistance, employer-provided dependent care, taxable income, state income tax, retroactive tax change, family care benefits, housing tax credit

Transcript Highlights:

• , everything uh in those solid waste burners.
• , everything uh in those solid waste burners.
• , everything uh in those solid waste burners.
• So, as you can imagine, from the waste that's created within your household or the municipal solid waste
• As you can imagine, from the waste that's created within your household or the municipal solid waste

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The solids that can't turn into methane are then trucked away.
• Historically, we've sent those solids to landfills.
• So the energy process also will minimize the solid waste production, so we can save the usable and feel
• So we've also been monitoring the bio-waste production rate.
• process is making only negligible bio-waste.

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on Biotechnology and Medical Technology held an informational hearing on the role of biotechnology industries in wastewater treatment, hosted at Bakar Labs on the UC Berkeley campus. Opening remarks emphasized California’s water scarcity, the rising cost of wastewater infrastructure, and the need to reuse and clean contaminated water. Committee members framed the hearing as a look at both current treatment challenges and emerging technologies that could improve water quality, affordability, and resilience over time. The first panel focused on statewide wastewater challenges. BACWA Executive Director Laurie Fono described wastewater plants as part of a broader circular economy, noting their roles in recycled water, environmental enhancement, biosolids management, carbon sequestration, and renewable energy generation. She highlighted major challenges including aging 1970s-era infrastructure, nutrient reduction mandates, sea level rise, evolving regulations, and PFAS source control. She said Bay Area agencies face about $11 billion in nutrient reduction costs, with rate increases, state revolving funds, WIFIA loans, and bonds as the main financing tools. Members asked about regional differences, energy revenue opportunities, smaller decentralized plants, and agricultural collaboration. The second panel featured researchers and lab experts discussing biotechnology solutions. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s Dr. Romine Chakarvati described using microbial communities and machine learning to help break down PFAS and treat produced water. CEL Analytical’s Dr. Yigi Dearborn explained pathogen testing for direct potable reuse, wastewater monitoring, and the need for larger sample volumes and more funding to validate methods for viruses and protozoa. Stanford’s Dr. Chunhung-Shin presented an anaerobic membrane system that turns domestic wastewater into clean water and energy with less biosolids and lower operating costs. Committee members asked about AI, assay development, scaling technologies, and funding priorities. Public comment from the California Association of Sanitation Agencies stressed the need to balance scalability, reliability, and affordability, and the hearing adjourned without any formal vote or action.

Transcript Highlights:

• The solids that can't turn into methane are then trucked away.
• Historically, we've sent those solids to landfills.
• The energy process also will minimize the solid waste production, so we can save the usable and feel
• We've also been monitoring the bio-waste production rate.
• process is making only negligible bio-waste.

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on Biotechnology and Medical Technology held an informational hearing at Bakar Labs on the UC Berkeley campus titled “Biotechnology Industries’ Role in Wastewater Treatment.” Chair Assembly Member Ward and Assembly Member Papan opened by framing wastewater as a major California challenge tied to water scarcity, aging infrastructure, regulatory demands, affordability, and the need for innovation. Bakar Labs described its biotech incubator and public-private model, emphasizing the role of state support in helping early-stage companies commercialize technologies and create jobs. The first panel focused on the current wastewater treatment landscape. BACWA Executive Director Laurie Fono described wastewater plants as part of a circular economy that can produce recycled water, environmental benefits, renewable energy, and biosolids for land application, but said agencies face major challenges from aging 1970s-era infrastructure, nutrient reduction mandates, climate change, sea level rise, evolving regulations, and Prop. 218 limits on rate structures. She highlighted PFAS as a major source-control issue, saying most of it comes from households rather than local manufacturing, and argued that treatment plants are not designed to handle everything entering the sewer system. Members asked about regional differences, energy generation, financing, smaller decentralized plants, and agricultural collaboration. The second panel highlighted biotechnology research and testing tools. A Berkeley Lab scientist described using microbial communities and machine learning to improve PFAS and produced-water treatment, while a CEL Analytical laboratory director discussed pathogen testing for direct potable reuse, wastewater surveillance, and the need for larger sample volumes and better filtration methods to validate log reductions. A Stanford researcher presented an anaerobic membrane bioreactor system that converts domestic wastewater into clean water and biogas with lower energy use and less biosolids, reporting a demonstration project in Redwood City that is net energy positive and can reduce operating costs. Legislators asked about AI, scaling technologies, pathogen detection, and funding needs. Panelists and public commenters urged more pilot funding, stronger utility-state-industry partnerships, and better coordination among regulatory agencies. The hearing ended with public comment from the California Association of Sanitation Agencies and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last week, it was reported that the Trump administration is incinerating 500 tons of emergency food aid
• Instead, it is being incinerated.
• Last week, it was reported that the Trump administration is incinerating 500 tons of emergency food aid
• Instead, it is being incinerated.
• Instead, it is being incinerated.

Bills: HB1522 , HB1917 , HB3937 , HR600

Keywords: Federal Retirement Fairness Act, FERS, federal retirement, creditable service, temporary employees, temporary federal service, Postal Service, USPS, Office of Personnel Management, OPM, retirement buyback, annuity, pension, civil service retirement, federal workforce, government employees, Members of Congress, retirement benefits, Great Lakes, fishery management

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate amended the bill by replacing the recycling fund with the solid waste fee fund as the fund
• It repeals the recycling fund and transfers all unexpended and unencumbered funds to the solid waste
• It expands eligible uses of the monies in the solid waste fee fund, and finally the Senate amendment
• It repeals the recycling fund and transfers all unexpended and uncumbered funds to the solid waste fee
• It expands eligible uses of the monies in the solid waste fee fund and finally the Senate amendment modifies

Transcript Highlights:

• First, it removes the no-cost allowances to waste-energy facilities.
• Instead, it exempts the emissions from waste-energy facilities used by county and city solid waste management
• waste diverted to a municipal...
• So emissions are counted that are associated with solid waste diverted to municipal solid waste landfill
• So we have one waste-to-energy facility in our state, and it is in Spokane.

Summary: The Environment and Energy committee met for executive session on four bills. Staff briefed House Bill 2416, which would replace Climate Commitment Act no-cost allowances for the Spokane waste-to-energy facility with a separate regulatory scheme requiring emissions reductions, reporting to Ecology and Commerce, and enforcement provisions; members discussed whether emissions accounting included biogenic emissions and confirmed the reduction measures would need to occur on-site. House Bill 2537 would direct Ecology to recommend a future allowance schedule for emissions-intensive, trade-exposed facilities and require biennial reporting and periodic plans, while House Bill 2575 would reduce several Energy Independence Act and state energy strategy reporting requirements for utilities and Commerce. House Bill 2322, as amended in a proposed substitute, would delay alternative jet fuel tax incentives until July 1, 2031, remove capacity thresholds, tie eligibility to life-cycle rather than direct emissions, and drop a Clean Fuels Program carbon-intensity change. During executive action, the committee debated the policy impacts of the waste-to-energy bill, with supporters saying the Spokane facility is unique and needs a separate framework, and opponents arguing it would create costly disincentives and raise ratepayer costs. The EITE bill drew support from members who said it would help identify facility-specific decarbonization options, while opponents warned about competitiveness, job losses, and industry leaving the state. The reporting-reduction bill was described as a streamlining measure that would save utilities money and remove duplicative or outdated reports. The alternative jet fuel substitute was presented as a clarification and simplification of the incentive structure, and members praised the changes. All four measures were reported out of committee with due pass recommendations. House Bill 2416 and House Bill 2537 each passed on 12-9 votes, House Bill 2575 passed unanimously by voice vote, and the proposed substitute for House Bill 2322 also passed unanimously by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, moving on to SB 21001, relating to organic waste, establishes statewide goals for solid waste reduction
• Len Ech, notubo with the Department of Health, Solid Waste Branch.
• U we stand Solid has his waste branch.
• And then on SB 21001 relating to organic waste, establishing statewide goals for solid waste reduction
• solid</c><00:36:21.839><c> waste</c> statewide goals for solid waste statewide goals for solid waste

Bills: SB2699

Committee: Senate Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs

Summary: The committee reconvened and first addressed SB 2699 on public transit/free transportation for young people. Members noted that the Committee on Transportation had already deferred the measure, and this committee said it would defer it as well before adjourning that brief reconvened session. The hearing then moved to SB 2373, which would establish a state goal to strengthen nature-based carbon emissions reduction solutions and authorize the Hawaii State Energy Office to develop methods to quantify carbon reductions from marine ecosystem restoration. The Energy Office said marine carbon sequestration was outside its expertise and asked to be removed from that portion of the bill, while DLNR and OPSD offered comments and said the work fit better with their areas, with DLNR saying it could take it on if properly resourced. Testimony included support from environmental groups, and committee discussion focused on which agency should lead and whether existing methodologies could be used. Next was SB 21001 on organic waste reduction and diversion. The Department of Health supported the intent but raised implementation concerns. Hawaii Farmers Union strongly supported the bill, arguing it would help build compost supply, improve soil health, and give counties time to develop infrastructure; they cited Vermont as a model and said the bill could extend landfill life and reduce methane. Members asked about the Vermont approach and the need for infrastructure before household-level diversion. The committee also heard SB 2905, which would increase the environmental response, energy, and food security tax and direct more revenue to the electric vehicle charging system subaccount. The Energy Office, PUC, and Tax Department offered comments; youth and clean transportation advocates strongly supported the bill as a way to expand charging access and meet EV adoption goals. A member questioned whether the proposed increase would outpace the state’s ability to deploy chargers, and PUC staff said the current annual appropriation is about $750,000 and that they could provide more data on an appropriate funding level. Additional measures were briefly taken up: SB 3231 on condominium maps and county zoning certification in A districts drew support from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and the Hawaii Farm Bureau; SB 2486 on climate change drew comments from the Energy Office, Climate Commission, and OPSD, who said it duplicated existing climate planning and should include adaptation language; and SB 2376 on the renewable fuels production tax credit drew support from industry and agricultural groups, while the Energy Office and Tax Department raised concerns about the rollover provision and the scale of the credit. No final votes were recorded in the excerpt beyond the earlier deferral of SB 2699.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> and</c> of of um solid waste into landfills and of of um solid waste into landfills and um<01:12
• This is not about solid waste. This is about hazardous waste.
• </c> the HB2 section for the solid waste. the HB2 section for the solid waste.
• page 13 where the solid waste permit page 13 where the solid waste permit application<04:15:23.120><c
• </c><04:21:16.840><c> waste</c> on solid waste on solid waste 0958<04:21:19.520><c> 54H.

Summary: The committee reviewed a handout comparing House Bill 2 to current retirement law and walked through the bill section by section with staff from the retirement system. The discussion focused on vesting, earnable compensation, average final compensation, compensation-over-base limits, special duty pay, normal retirement age, re-retirement, and maximum benefit rules for Group 2/Tier B members. Staff explained that some provisions would restore pre-2011 rules, including counting certain end-of-career payments such as unused sick and vacation time in earnable compensation and reducing the AFC averaging period from five years back to three. They also described how the bill would eliminate the current cap on compensation over base, which mainly affects overtime, and noted that the actuarial cost of the AFC-related changes is interrelated rather than easily broken out by feature. A separate discussion covered the special duty pay limitation, which currently applies to Tier A and would be removed under the governor’s bill for both Tier A and Tier B members after their vested buy date. Staff said the actuary estimated that removing the special duty limitation would increase costs by about $13.9 million. Members also asked about the practical difference between overtime and special duty, with staff explaining that special duty generally involves work for a private third party, often police detail work, while overtime depends more on staffing and scheduling. The committee also reviewed the normal retirement age changes for Tier B and the possibility that some members would need to work longer to reach the new vested buy date. Members raised concerns about an ambiguity in the bill that could allow already-retired Tier B members to return to work, then re-retire and claim the higher benefits, or allow vested deferred members to stop working and wait for the new vested buy date. Staff said the governor’s office did not intend to allow that result and requested clarifying language, noting that the bill as drafted does not expressly prohibit it. The committee also discussed part-time and seasonal work after retirement, with staff explaining that such work generally does not restore membership unless the person takes a full-time position requiring enrollment. Finally, the committee reviewed the maximum benefit provisions and noted that HB 2 in the current year does not change the maximum benefit date or include the 1.5% annual escalator that had been part of the 2023 proposal, making the current bill more costly than the earlier version.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> for</c> the solid waste management fund for the solid waste management fund for solid<02:43:15.200
• </c> solid waste management districts. solid waste management districts.
• </c><02:46:28.160><c> waste</c> request to remove the solid waste request to remove the solid waste districts
• </c> to deal with the solid waste districts. to deal with the solid waste districts.
• </c><02:47:39.200><c> waste</c> being collected to the solid waste being collected to the solid waste

Summary: The meeting began with quorum and seating issues, including the temporary appointment of Representative Shaw to fill in for a House member, followed by approval of the previous minutes and the consent calendar. Two items were then postponed to next month: Mechanical Licensing Board item 25-241 and Board of Veterinarian item 25-223. The committee then took up Department of Energy rulemaking on distributed energy resources interconnection procedures, including items 25-220 and related sections on fees, additional controls, and equipment. The Department explained revised language to address concerns that the original draft improperly suggested agency or PUC approval of utility fees; under the amended language, utilities would set fees designed to recover costs, with complaints handled through existing complaint procedures. Committee members and the Department discussed the statutory basis for that approach, including cost responsibility versus fee-setting authority. Public testimony was mixed. A small solar developer argued the rules still exceed statutory authority, impose unfair costs on customer generators, and allow utilities to shift transmission-related study costs onto interconnecting customers. Clean energy advocates supported the Department’s revised language but asked for clearer limits on charging customers for later-added controls, arguing costs should be tied directly to the customer’s interconnection and not to later utility-driven changes. Eversource supported the revised fee language, said most prior concerns were resolved, and recommended conditional approval, while also suggesting a minor wording change in the “Additional Equipment” section to clarify that only operational performance is covered.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the third thing that I did is the way that it was structured, it was requiring these solid waste
• Those solid waste facilities would aggregate those funds that come in from the haulers and quarterly
• </c> which would be one of our again solid which would be one of our again solid waste<00:20:17.360><
• <c> make</c><00:20:34.240><c> the</c> these solid waste facilities to make the these solid waste facilities
• Those u solid waste structure.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• ...for solid waste.
• Fortunately, they do not need the entire balance to bankroll the solid waste regulatory fund for the
• And is this an allowable use to transfer from hazardous waste to solid waste to a new fund we've created
• fund for solid waste.
• And so they will be using it in the solid waste regulatory fund as an oversight of that subject matter

Summary: The joint Senate Finance and House Appropriations committee heard a series of budget presentations and acted on several FY 2026 and FY 2027 items. Noah Peterson reviewed the General Fund Daily Update, noting large FY 2026 supplemental actions for Medicaid and Corrections that reduced the estimated ending balance, and a FY 2027 outlook that still had room for remaining work. He also flagged several policy bills with fiscal impacts, including county jail per diem changes, a state police bill, and a health and welfare board/position bill. Janet Jessup then walked the committee through Department of Environmental Quality and Soil and Water Conservation actions. The committee approved adding four FTP for DEQ’s solid waste regulatory program and adopted related language transferring $400,000 from the hazardous waste emergency fund to support the new solid waste regulatory fund. It also approved a CREP supplemental for the Soil and Water Conservation Commission and then voted to move the commission from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Water Resources, including a corresponding reduction in Agriculture and an addition in Water Resources. The committee adopted language to align the new budget structure and approved a one-time $390,000 restoration in the Department of Water Resources to avoid reducing stream-gauging and water-monitoring services. The committee next considered the consolidation of the Office of Species Conservation and the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources into a new Office of Species, Mineral, and Energy Coordination. It approved reductions to the two existing offices and then debated competing motions for the new office. The substitute motion to cut four FTP and reduce spending more deeply failed, while the original motion to reduce two FTP and preserve more staffing for nuclear and mining coordination passed. Members and the agency administrator argued that Idaho needs a stronger “one-stop shop” for nuclear and mining projects, while others emphasized following the policy bill moving through the legislature and capturing consolidation savings. The committee also approved a DOPL budget item for replacement vehicles and IT hardware. Most motions passed with do-pass recommendations, and the committee announced it would meet again the next day; Senate Finance was noted as on hold, while House Appropriations would continue after adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving right along, the bill allows for any regulations passed by the Board of Health or the solid waste
• Health or the waste solid waste Health or the waste solid waste management<00:13:28.200><c> district<
• Okay, moving on to the Solid Waste Management District Boards and the Local Health Boards.
• Anything related to the Solid Waste Management Board that you want to highlight for why we're singling
• </c><00:24:51.560><c> during</c> "What do we do with food waste during "What do we do with food waste

Committee: House Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• waste collection and disposal space.
• I would add to that, Representative Smith, that the 5-year solid waste management plan that you're speaking
• > Kentucky,</c><00:23:33.000><c> um</c> Solid Waste Coordinators of Kentucky, um Solid Waste Coordinators
• </c> Representative Smith, that 5-year solid Representative Smith, that 5-year solid waste<00:23:47.360
• </c> people working there in our waste people working there in our waste recycling<00:27:28.760><c> are

Committee: House Natural Resources & Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• :22.520><c> it</c> be solid or hazardous waste, and so it be solid or hazardous waste, and so it is<01
• not being in the regular solid waste stream.
• And so, the regular solid waste stream.
• that's hitting our solid waste facilities.
• that's hitting our solid waste facilities.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Turning to page 6, the city utilized solid waste funds to pay monthly dumpster rental fees on behalf
• Additionally, $3,600 was due to the street fund from the solid waste fund as of December 31, 2023.
• And then for maybe a year and a half, those deposits from the solid waste weren't transferred to Half
• , those deposits from the solid waste weren't transferred to the general fund, or vice versa from the
• general fund to solid waste.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:13.920><c> Task</c><00:04:14.239><c> Force</c> Um, the Solid Waste Reduction Task Force Um
• , the Solid Waste Reduction Task Force of<00:04:14.799><c> Hawaii</c><00:04:15.599><c> Environmental<
• We also have testimony and support from the Solid Waste Reduction Task Force of Hawaii Environmental
• </c><00:05:26.960><c> waste</c><00:05:27.280><c> reduction</c> support from the solid waste reduction
• </c><02:02:10.880><c> waste</c> existing county integrated solid waste existing county integrated solid

Bills: SB3253 , SB3154 , SB3254

Committee: House Energy & Environmental Protection

Summary: The committee on Energy and Environmental Protection heard a long series of resolutions focused largely on waste reduction, energy planning, and environmental protection. Early measures included HR 12/HCR 10 on a permanent landfill host benefits program for Honolulu, HCR 148/HCR 157 on a demolition waste reduction working group, and HR 184/HCR 194 on a mattress stewardship program working group. Testimony on these waste-related measures was generally supportive from environmental groups and some individuals, while the Department of Health supported the mattress stewardship proposal. The Department of Health also commented that a proposed study on recyclable/biodegradable/compostable labeling was very broad and would require additional resources to carry out effectively. The committee then took up several energy-related resolutions. HR 192/HCR 202 would create a task force on Hawaii’s future energy pathways, and HR 194/HCR 204 would ask the Public Utilities Commission to conduct a comprehensive analysis of cost reductions and financial risk. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Hawaii State Energy Office, and the PUC offered support or comments on these measures, with environmental and industry groups also submitting testimony. Members questioned the Energy Office and PUC at length about errors in prior analyses, competitive bidding, and whether utility proposals could proceed through waiver processes; the PUC said any proposal would still be reviewed and that it generally prefers competitive bidding, while the Energy Office said some issues were being characterized differently and would follow up on waiver standards. Additional measures addressed data centers, liquefied natural gas, and utility oversight. HR 196/HCR 206 would convene a working group on the impacts of large data centers, and HR 197/HCR 207 would require conditions before the PUC approves LNG-related costs; testimony on LNG was split, with supporters urging caution and opponents arguing LNG should not be pursued. HR 193/HCR 2003 sought a written status update on implementation of the Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, and HR 191/HCR 201 and HR 33/HCR 33 dealt with sewage and wastewater issues, both drawing support from environmental and community groups. The committee also heard strong support for HR 141/HCR 149 on Red Hill remediation meetings and HR 190/HCR 200 on reassessing military PFAS cleanup decisions; the Board of Water Supply testified in support and described ongoing PFAS testing and concerns beyond Red Hill. The transcript ends as the committee moved into decision-making, with the chair indicating a recommendation to pass HR 12/HCR 10.

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> with</c> office of solid waste management um with office of solid waste management um with fewer<
• What about solid waste to do the recycling programs?
• >> Office of Solid Waste Management in total.
• >> Office of Solid Waste Management in total. >> Office of Solid Waste Management in total. >> We have
• </c><01:05:18.880><c> Waste</c> these um uh Office of Solid Waste these um uh Office of Solid Waste Management

Summary: The informational briefing focused on the Office of the Auditor’s recent audit of Hawaii’s deposit beverage container program and the Department of Health’s response. State Auditor Les Condo reviewed the program’s structure, noting it was created to increase recycling and reduce litter, but said prior audits have repeatedly found weak internal controls, reliance on self-reported data, and an “honor system” approach. He cited examples of underreporting and overpayment risks, including a Whole Foods settlement and secret-shopper testing at a redemption center where the program reimbursed more than what was actually paid to consumers. Condo said the special fund continues to grow, increasing by more than $12 million between FY24 and FY25, and that the 2024 audit found no meaningful progress in implementing earlier recommendations. He also noted that many prior recommendations were later codified in law, including risk-based audits and internal control requirements, and said the office will audit the program again in about a year. Senator Fevella said the briefing was needed because he has seen little progress over the years and emphasized the program’s goals of reducing litter and promoting recycling. He noted that Hawaii has lost a glass recycler, underscoring broader challenges in the system. Department of Health Deputy Director Kathleen Hoe said the department is committed to addressing longstanding problems and said the director’s office meets with the program twice a month. Program staff outlined steps being taken to respond to the audit, including revising accounting and inspection/enforcement manuals, retaining third-party services, and implementing risk-based audits of distributors and redemption centers. They said internal control process documents from distributors were due June 30, with about 200 received and roughly 100 still outstanding, and that enforcement letters are being sent. The department also described plans for electronic reporting to reduce manual entry and improve accuracy, as well as a broader legislative proposal for a tiered audit system. Under that proposal, larger distributors would remain subject to the current every-other-year audit requirement, middle-tier distributors would be audited every five years, and smaller distributors would be exempt. Officials said the governor had temporarily waived enforcement of the 2025 independent audit requirement because of cost concerns for smaller distributors, while the department reviews submitted audits and considers a longer-term fix. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm here representing the Idaho Solid Waste Association.
• And as executive director and CEO at Southern Idaho Solid Waste, ...across the state.
• solid waste district.
• We discussed code changes that we believed needed to be made within the solid waste code.
• Solid waste professionals work every day to keep our communities clean, safe, and healthy.

Committee: House Local Government