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REPORT OF THE <br />POLICY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE <br />MANAGEMENT <br />DATE: October 21, 2025 Re: Comm. No. 482Bill No. 83 <br />PLACE: Council Chambers <br />Kailua-Kona, Hawaii <br />TIME: 2:30 p.m. <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawaii County Council <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />Your Policy Committee on Environmental and Natural Resource Management, to which was referred <br />Bill No. 83, reports as follows: <br />Bill No. 83, transmitted by Council Members Rebecca Villegas and Michelle Galimba via <br />Communication No. 482, dated August 14, 2025, amends Chapter 20 of the Hawaii County Code <br />1983 (2016 edition, as amended), relating to plastic and polystyrene waste. <br />This bill seeks to reduce disposable plastic or polystyrene foodware and serviceware in alignment with <br />the County of Hawai`i's Zero Waste Plan and the State of Hawai`i's Aloha+ Challenge Solid Waste <br />Reduction Goals. <br />Policy Committee on Environmental and Natural Resource Management Meeting of <br />September 16, 2025 <br />Environmental Management Recycling Specialist Alex White was present in Chambers. <br />Committee Member Rebecca Villegas provided a brief background and her motivation for introducing <br />this bill was not intended to compete or inhibit the movement and transition to reusable, but to prohibit <br />the use of something. Ms. Villegas commented in support for a reusable program and is open to more <br />conversation or proposed amendments for this legislation. <br />Committee Member Michelle Galimba commented on the definition of food providers and County <br />facility users. Ms. Galimba noted the feedback around prepared food versus pre -packaged food stating <br />the concern that this legislation might prevent local manufacturers from being able to package their <br />food in a way that is reasonable. Ms. Galimba also noted the definition in the County Code for <br />prepared food does not include pre -packaged food and the possibility to apply for an undue hardship <br />exemption, which would give businesses 180 days to find solutions. Ms. Galimba added that the <br />intention is to move us away from single use foodware from prepared food. <br />Committee Member Holeka Goro Inaba asked for more clarity in the definitions of County facility <br />users and franchisees, and where and who this bill would apply to. <br />Committee Member James Hustace asked about the County's past plans of industrial composting. <br />Mr. White explained that compostable products are going into the landfill, there are no suitable <br />PCENRM Report No. 3 <br />