Bill > HB878

This bill expands regulations regarding landfill buffer zones in Hawaii by increasing the required distance from one-half mile to one mile and broadening the types of areas that must be protected. Specifically, the bill mandates that no waste or disposal facility can be constructed, modified, or expanded without establishing a buffer zone of at least one mile around the facility, now including not just residential lots, schools, and hospitals, but also land parcels within the state conservation district and national conservation areas managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management. The legislative findings emphasize the environmental, health, and safety risks posed by landfills, particularly their potential impact on native species, habitats, and cultural resources. The bill defines "conservation district" as the state land use district established under chapter 205 and clarifies that the new requirements do not apply to existing waste or disposal facilities that are already properly permitted, unless they require physical expansion. The expanded buffer zone is intended to provide greater protection for Hawaii's sensitive ecological and community spaces, ensuring that potentially harmful waste facilities maintain a significant distance from critical conservation lands.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=878&year=2026