2021-08-25 EMC agenda item 5-b(1) - HB1316_TESTIMONY_EEP_02-09-21_

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Undertake a fair and careful study of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Discussion EPR is a policy approach to waste reduction that encourages manufacturers to design environmentally friendly products by holding them responsible for the costs of managing their products at the end of life. EPR shifts the economic burden of the cost of disposal, recycling, and cleanup from the government to the producer of the product. According to the Organization for Economic Co- operation and Development, assigning such responsibility could in principle provide incentives to prevent wastes at the source, promote product redesign for environmental protection, and support public recycling and materials management goals. The study should include a comprehensive legislation and literature review on the impacts of a possible EPR law for packaging in incorporate lessons learned and discussions from other states and the federal government that have been pursuing parallel efforts to implement EPR. The study should analyze the following two specific scenarios: (1) EPR in Hawaii independent of other state and federal packaging EPR initiatives; and The study should evaluate: ts to all stakeholders (i.e. environment, consumers, taxpayers, government, and businesses, etc.); As this recommendation notes, an EPR policy, such as the one being proposed in this measure is likely to have a range of potential costs in addition to any benefits. These costs could include price increases for consumers, decreased product availability, tax increases, and costs to businesses, including local businesses. We believe that it would be imprudent to pass this measure or other EPR legislation in Hawaii without understanding the costs and benefits. HFIA is in support of conducting a study of EPR when the state is able to fund such a study. We would also like to highlight the fact that packaging laws for products, especially medicine and food, are created at the national level with the primary goal of keeping people safe. Any state legislation needs to take this into consideration and cannot contradict Federal laws. For these reasons this measure is not the right choice for our state, and we ask that it be held. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.