HB 786 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO DEPOSIT BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING.

Summary

Allows the Department of Health to use money in the Deposit Beverage Container Deposit Special Fund to deploy reverse vending machines. Repeals certain exemptions for beverage dealers from the requirement to operate redemption centers. Allows for the establishment of regional centers for the redemption of refillable beverage containers but not as substitutes for dealers' means to receive deposit beverage containers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

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What changed between versions

HB786 → HB786_HD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision updates the Department of Health's role in the beverage container recycling program by shifting its focus from operating a pilot program to evaluating and promoting market development, including the deployment of reverse vending machines. It also tightens the exemption rules for small dealers by reducing the distance requirement for operating redemption centers from two miles to one-half mile and removes a specific exemption for high-density population areas. Finally, the effective date of the Act is changed from July 1, 2025, to the distant future of July 1, 3000.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include the evaluation and promotion of recyclable market development activities, while the applicability of exemptions for beverage dealers was narrowed to require redemption centers to be within one-half mile rather than two miles.

REQUIREMENT

The Department of Health's duties were changed from establishing a pilot program to evaluating and promoting recyclable market development, specifically including the deployment of reverse vending machines.

ELIGIBILITY

The distance requirement for beverage dealers to operate their own redemption centers was reduced from two miles to one-half mile of an existing certified center.

The specific exemption for dealers located in high-density population areas was removed.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 3000.

FISCAL

The description of the program was updated to reflect that the Department of Health may use funds to deploy reverse vending machines rather than just providing grants through a pilot program.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 4, 2025

Committee

Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 98) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Jan 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Kahaloa, Kusch, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to EEP, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

19 primary · 0 co-sponsors