Posted on: Friday, March 7, 2003

Support for bottle-recycling bill clearly prevalent as repeal fails

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Science Writer

Hawai'i's deposit-return law for drink containers — commonly known as the "bottle bill" — appears to be have survived efforts in the Legislature to kill it, despite Gov. Linda Lingle's support for a repeal.

"I think there is just tremendous support (for the bottle bill)," said Suzanne Jones, recycling coordinator for the city government.

The measure, passed last year, establishes a deposit-return program statewide for beverage containers, starting in 2005. Consumers will pay an extra 5 cents when they buy a plastic or glass drink bottle or a beverage can, and get a nickel back when they return the empty container.

"There is no real desire to repeal it," said Rep. Hermina Morita, D-14th (Kapa'a, Hanalei).

"The votes aren't there."

Opponents have tried to persuade legislators that other systems work better. Sen. Sam Slom, R-8th (Kahala, Hawai'i Kai), said that beverage containers represent a miniscule part of the state's refuse stream, that the legislation is much like a tax and that collection of empties unduly affects businesses.

Lowell Kalapa, president of the Tax Foundation of Hawai'i, said that "over the years, rates of recycling are declining in states where it has been in place."

Although bills can be revived at the last minute in the Legislature, Slom conceded that chances for a repeal are slim. All of the bills aimed at a repeal failed to make it out of committee for the mid-session "crossover," when House bills move to the Senate and vice versa.

Rep. Cynthia Thielen, R-50th (Kailua, Mokapu), said killing the repeal legislation is not a repudiation of Lingle, but rather a recognition that deposit-return legislation is something the public supports.

"I had done surveys on the Windward side, and they came back strongly for the bottle bill," she said.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 245-3074.