REQUESTING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO CONSIDER DEVELOPING A FACILITY TO DISCARD LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES.

SR73

THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

73

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

requesting the city and county of honolulu to consider
developing a facility to discard LITHIUM-ION batteries
.

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WHEREAS, lithium-ion
batteries pose significant environmental and public safety risks when damaged
or improperly disposed of, including fire and explosion hazards in landfills
and waste processing facilities; and

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WHEREAS, despite
laws regulating the disposal of lithium-ion batteries, many are improperly
discarded and end up in landfills or other inappropriate parts of the solid
waste system; and

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WHEREAS, the
improper disposal of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries creates unnecessary
safety hazards for workers and surrounding residents, while also posing
environmental threats to the State's land and water resources, including the
aquifer; and

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WHEREAS, Act 209,
Session Laws of Hawaii 2025 (Act 209), established the Electric Vehicle Battery
Recycling and Reuse Working Group to examine how to maximize the recycling and
reuse of electric vehicle batteries and recommend electric vehicle battery
management practices; and

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WHEREAS, the
Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling and Reuse Working Group included
representatives from various sectors throughout the electric vehicle battery
industry, including researchers, policymakers, manufacturers, shippers, and
end-of-life recycling facilities; and

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WHEREAS, Act
209 received broad support from the electric vehicle battery industry to
address the complex risks associated with electric vehicle batteries, including
fire hazards from lithium-ion batteries; and

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WHEREAS, establishing
accessible, safe, and properly managed lithium-ion battery disposal
infrastructure at the county level would reduce fire risks, protect
environmental resources, and support the responsible management of end-of-life
batteries; 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 City and County of Honolulu is requested to
consider developing a facility to discard lithium-ion batteries, including but
not limited to developing a wet shredding facility in conjunction with the Honolulu
Program of Waste Energy Recovery (H-POWER) to discard lithium-ion batteries or
electric vehicle batteries for end-of-life use; and

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BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chief
Energy Officer of the Hawaii State Energy Office, Mayor of the City and County
of Honolulu, Chairperson of the Honolulu City Council, and Director of the
Department of Environmental Services of the City and County of Honolulu.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
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City
and County of Honolulu; Lithium-ion Batteries; Facility; Discard; H-POWER