Groups seek to delay
bottle chargeBusinesses say they need rules
to prepare redemption centers
In the waning days of the Legislature, grocery retailers and beverage bottlers are lobbying to delay the Jan. 1 start of Hawaii's bottle-deposit law for six months or a year.
The industry groups say they need more time to prepare since state Health Department rules governing the program, approved in 2002, have not been finalized.
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"If the rules are not promulgated, how do we make our decisions on establishing redemption centers or labeling?" said Lori Lum, who is lobbying for the time extension on behalf of the Coca-Cola and Pepsi bottling companies in Hawaii. "We don't think it's unreasonable to ask for delay when there are no rules."
The law will charge consumers a 5-cent-per-container refundable deposit, plus a 1.5-cent nonrefundable fee to finance processing costs.
Senate members were appointed yesterday to a conference committee considering a bill to fine-tune the 2002 law. Postponing the start of refunds for consumers is the most significant item being considered.
Supporters of the law said there's no reason to wait.
"The ultimate goal of a delay for retailers and the beverage industry is to gain another year so they can lobby for its repeal," said Suzanne Jones, Honolulu's recycling coordinator. "Their argument that they don't have time to label the containers is questionable."
Though state Health Department rules aren't final, the industry has been involved in creating the rules, she said.
Sierra Club members have seen bottles in Hawaii stores with labels that already have a Hawaii refund label, said Jeff Mikulina, director of the state chapter.
"Some responsible bottlers have already begun to comply with the requirements of the bottle law, eight months ahead of schedule," Mikulina said.
The statewide container refund program is designed to be self-supporting. If 70 percent of containers are returned for refunds, it is expected to take in $48 million in 2005, of which $11 million would be used to pay recyclers and $3.4 million would pay for a state recycling administration. Consumers returning bottles and cans would receive $33.6 million in refunds.
Beverage retailers began making half-cent-a-container payments to the state in October to build up a fund for the initial consumer refunds.
