REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON RECYCLABLE, BIODEGRADABLE, AND COMPOSTABLE LABELING IN THE STATE TO DETERMINE IF THE LABELING IS ACCURATE AND NON-DECEPTIVE.

SR128

THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

128

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON
recyclable, biodegradable, and COMPOSTABLE LABELING IN THE STATE TO determine
if the LABELING IS ACCURATE AND NON-DECEPTIVE.

����
WHEREAS,
there is no national legislation or standard for recyclable, biodegradable, and
compostable product labeling; and

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WHEREAS,
consumers rely on product labeling, including symbols such as the "chasing
arrows" triangle and biodegradable and compostable claims, to make
informed decisions about recycling and composting; and

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WHEREAS, the
chasing arrows symbol and biodegradable and compostable product labeling have
long been a source of confusion for consumers; and

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WHEREAS, the
chasing arrows symbol indicates the type of plastic resin used in a product and
does not guarantee recyclability; and

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WHEREAS,
recycling programs see high rates of contamination when items that are
generally recyclable are mixed in with items that cannot be recycled; and

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WHEREAS,
sorting through contaminated items is costly, and often leads to most items
being sent to landfills, including materials that could have been recycled if
they had been properly sorted; and

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WHEREAS, approximately
ninety-eight percent of virgin plastics are made from fossil fuels; and

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WHEREAS, as
renewable energy demand increases across the country, fossil fuel companies are
seeking to recoup lost profits by increasing plastics production; and

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WHEREAS, in
2019, plastics generated 3.4 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and
these emissions are projected to increase significantly as plastics production
expands, with the plastics industry expected to surpass coal-fired power plants
as a major leading source of greenhouse gas emissions; and

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WHEREAS,
addressing climate change requires reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including
by decreasing the production of virgin plastics and increasing plastic
recycling rates; and

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WHEREAS, most
packaging or products labeled as biodegradable or compostable are designed to
break down in industrial composting facilities and will not break down under
home composting conditions; and

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WHEREAS,
access to industrial composting facilities is limited, and, even where such
facilities exist, food and yard waste are often prioritized over biodegradable
and compostable packaging and products due to contamination risks and capacity
constraints; and

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WHEREAS, as a
result, biodegradable and compostable packaging and products often end up in
landfills, which are not conducive to biodegrading or composting, leading to these
materials either persisting or breaking down anaerobically, which can produce
greenhouse gas emissions; now, therefore,

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BE IT
RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii,
Regular Session of 2026, that the
Department of Health
is requested to

conduct a study on recyclable,
biodegradable, and compostable labeling in the State to determine if the labeling
is accurate and non-deceptive; and

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BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the study includes:

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(1)
�
An assessment of products sold or distributed
in Hawaii that have the chasing arrows symbol, including an evaluation of the
types of such products that are or are not actually recyclable in the State;

����
(2)
�
An assessment of products sold or distributed
in Hawaii that are labeled as biodegradable, including an evaluation of the
types of such products that are or are not actually biodegradable in the State;

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(3)
�
An assessment of products sold or distributed
in Hawaii that are labeled as compostable, including an evaluation of the types
of such products that are or are not actually compostable in the State;

����
(4)
�
An examination of the distinction between home
compostable and industrial compostable products, and whether such products meet
recognized industry standards, such as ASTM International standards for compostability;

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(5)
�
An analysis of the gaps between consumer
expectations, product labeling practices, and actual recycling and composting
capabilities and outcomes in the State;

����
(6)
�
An analysis of common contaminants that may be
introduced into the recycling stream, composting facilities, or the environment
due to misleading or unclear recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable
labeling;

����
(7)
�
A review of existing standards, definitions,
and labeling guidelines for recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable
products, including but not limited to ASTM International standards, the
Federal Trade Commission's Green Guides, and any relevant state or municipal
guidelines; and

����
(8)
�
Recommendations for recyclable, biodegradable,
and compostable labeling standards or guidelines to enhance clarity, reduce
contamination, and improve recycling and composting rates; and

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BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the
Department of Health is requested to submit a report of its
findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the
Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular
Session of 2027
; and

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BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Director of Health.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
�

DOH;
Recyclable, Biodegradable, and Compostable Labeling; Study