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<br />IV. Summary of Act 254 <br /> <br />In 2019, the Hawaii State Legislature passed Act 254. This act was intended to address the plastic <br />waste issue through source reduction and established the Plastic Source Reduction Working Group <br />(Working Group). The act also identified seven tasks for the Working Group to address: <br /> <br />1. Formulate a plan for reducing and recovering plastic from the Hawaii waste stream; <br /> <br />2. Develop strategies to encourage plastic reduction and reuse in the food service industry, such as <br />reusable container incentive programs for customers; <br /> <br />3. Provide recommendations to encourage reuse, reduction, recycling, and recovery of waste and <br />create value added products to innovate and responsibly manage the life cycle of existing resources; <br /> <br />4. Consult with each county that has already enacted ordinances related to single-use plastics such as <br />plastic bags and polystyrene foam containers and develop recommendations for the implementation <br />of a uniform, statewide policy for these items that can replace existing county ordinances and <br />provide businesses with laws that are consistent throughout the State; <br /> <br />5. Consult with stakeholders to develop appropriate exemptions to address concerns of health and <br />safety, lack of suitable alternative products on the market, and lack of infrastructure; <br /> <br />6. Evaluate potential lifecycle and environmental implications of replacing plastic packaging with <br />alternative products; and <br /> <br />7. Shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including recommendations for pilot <br />projects for Hawaii businesses to phase out single-use plastic packaging, promote reuse, and find <br />sustainable alternatives for packaging, as well as any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later <br />than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2021. <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br /> <br />