Bill > SB446

This bill addresses waste management and environmental protection in Hawaii by implementing two key provisions. First, beginning July 1, 2025, the bill prohibits the construction, modification, or expansion of any landfill unit mauka (inland) of the underground injection control line without establishing a buffer zone of at least one-quarter mile around the landfill unit. The buffer zone is defined as the distance between waste activity and the nearest residential, school, or hospital property line. Second, the bill bans the use of fly ash, bottom ash, or a combination of these ashes from municipal waste combustors for road building, construction, or as alternative daily cover material at landfills. These ashes can only be disposed of in a double-lined, licensed municipal solid waste or hazardous waste landfill. The bill's motivation stems from concerns about protecting Hawaii's crucial groundwater resources, particularly after the Red Hill fuel facility contamination incident, and the potential risks to the Wahiawa aquifer, which provides approximately 99% of the state's domestic water. The legislation aims to safeguard freshwater resources and prevent potential environmental and public health risks associated with improper waste management. The bill is set to take effect on December 31, 2050.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=446&year=2025