Bill Text: HI SB958 | 2021 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 958 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Solid Waste.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-01-29 - Referred to AEN/EET, JDC. [SB958 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2021-SB958-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	958
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to SOLID waste.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that while wind turbines are considered a valuable source of renewable energy, there are many unintended consequences of the development of wind turbines, specifically the disposal of wind turbine parts that are not recyclable. The average lifespan of a wind turbine is twenty to twenty-five years. The legislature notes that ninety per cent of a wind turbine's parts can be recycled or sold; however, the same cannot be said of a wind turbine's blades.

The legislature further finds that the United States will have more than seven hundred twenty thousand tons of blade material to dispose of over the next twenty years, and this does not include newer, taller, higher-capacity wind turbines currently in development. Currently, there are not many affordable options to recycle or dispose of turbine blades as they are typically made of a tough but pliable mix of resin and fiberglass. Decommissioned blades are also difficult and expensive to transport given their size, which requires specialized equipment to transport the blades to a landfill. The legislature finds that due to the size of the turbine blades, any disposal of a blade, or any part of the blade, will further exacerbate the already limited space in Hawaii's landfills.

The legislature finds that the State continues to struggle to reduce the waste of its residents and its burgeoning waste in the future. For example, in October 2019, the land use commission found that the Waimanalo Gulch could not accept more solid waste and decided that the facility must shut down by March 2, 2028. To develop a new landfill, the city must pick a location, acquire the property if it does not already own it, conduct an environmental impact statement, design the facility, and construct the project. Cost projections to develop each site varies by location and ranges from $33,600,000 to $76,800,000. Although the counties have made earnest efforts to reduce waste through initiatives such as adopting laws aimed at banning the use of plastic bags and plastic and polystyrene food waste, landfills across the State are close to reaching capacity, leaving counties to come up with locations for new landfill sites.

Therefore, because the fiberglass wind turbine blades and construction and demolition material are not able to be recycled and have the capacity of using up large amounts of local municipal trash, the purpose of this Act is to prohibit the disposal of a wind turbine blade in any landfill in the State.

SECTION 2. Chapter 342G, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§342G- Disposal of wind turbine blades; prohibition. The disposal of a wind turbine blade, or parts of a wind turbine blade, in any landfill in the State shall be prohibited."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Wind Turbine Blade; Blade Parts; Disposal; Prohibition

Description:

Prohibits the disposal of a wind turbine blade, or parts of a wind turbine blade, in any landfill in the State.

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