Senate committee backs resolutions urging adoption of UN plastics-treaty recommendations with 'zero waste' language

Senate concurrent resolution 132 and Senate resolution 111, which encourage state adoption of recommendations from the United Nations Global Plastics Treaty and the Rapa Nui summit declaration, passed committee with amendments to adopt 'zero waste' terminology.

Greenpeace Hawaii testified in support of the resolutions. Dave Melinex, speaking for Greenpeace, described concerns about increasing plastic production and its health implications, saying, among other points, that researchers have found microplastics in human blood and that plastic is showing up in mother’s milk. Melinex urged committee members to support the resolutions.

The committee accepted an amendment recommended by the Energy Justice Network to change references from a “waste hierarchy” to a “zero waste hierarchy” and made additional technical amendments. The chair announced the recommendation to pass the measures with those amendments and recorded the committee’s adoption of the recommendation.

Why it matters: supporters said the resolutions align the state with international efforts to reduce plastic pollution and the fossil-fuel-driven expansion of plastics production. Testimony included public-health and environmental concerns cited by advocacy groups.

Formal action: the committee recommended passage with amendments, and members recorded no objections in the committee vote. The measures will proceed consistent with the committee’s amended recommendation.

Next steps: the amended resolutions advance from committee; any legislative translation of these policy positions into statutes or regulations would require subsequent bills or administrative actions.