Solid Waste Planning Documents, Special Projects, and Working Groups

Solid Waste Planning

EV Battery Working Group

Act 209 (June 25, 2025)

The legislature finds that electric vehicle popularity and usage in the State has grown dramatically. Electric vehicle registration has increased by thirty per cent, resulting in over thirty-four thousand registered vehicles in the State. As electric vehicle usage increases, more electric vehicle batteries will enter the waste stream. Proper recycling and disposal practices are needed to ensure that electric vehicle batteries do not contribute to environmental harm. The purpose of this Act is to establish a working group to examine how to maximize the recycling and reuse of electric vehicle batteries and recommend electric vehicle battery management practices.

Read more at the EV Battery Working Group

Statewide Waste Characterization Study 

This is the first statewide Waste Characterization Study (WCS) funded in part by a Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant program awarded to the State Department of Health.  The SWIFR grant program is an Environmental Protection Agency managed grant authorized by the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act and funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 

Read more on the Statewide Waste Characterization Study

Needs Assessment for an Extended Producer Responsibility Study

Act 103 (May 27, 2025)

Requires the Department of Health to conduct a statewide needs assessment to determine what will be needed to reduce waste generation, increase reuse, improve recycling collection services, and expand local processing of materials through an extended producer responsibility program for packaging materials and paper products. Establishes an advisory council to review the draft needs assessment and propose recommendations throughout the assessment process.

Read more at the Act 103: Needs Assessment for an EPR Study

Statewide Plan

The Hawai‘i 2000 Plan for Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) addresses the waste management challenges with diverse recommended actions. The planning process
began with the following two basic purposes, defined by the State of Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH):

  1. To address the primary environmental burdens and liabilities caused by improper handling of solid wastes in Hawai’i.
  2. To develop programs that have the greatest potential to reduce the quantity of wastes generated and to increase recycling and composting.

Solid Waste Planning Revisions
Pursuant to HRS Chapter 342G, Part III. Integrated Solid Waste Management Planning, the Department of Health Office of Solid Waste Management is convening a task force to provide revisions to the previous State Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan (ISWMP).

Past Special Projects and Working Groups

Plastic Source Reduction Working Group

Pursuant to Act 254, SLH 2019 the Department of Health, Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch convened a Plastic Source Reduction Working Group.
Plastic Source Reduction Working Group

As part of the plastic source reduction working group, a foodware ban comparison chart by county was developed.
Food Ware Bans Comparison Chart