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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT <br /> DATE: February 1, 2011 Re: Comm. 64 (Bill 17) <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Hilo, Hawai i <br /> TIME: 11:07 a.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Environmental Management, to which was referred Communication No. 64 <br /> (Bill 17), reports as follows: <br /> Bill 17, transmitted by Councilmember Pete Hoffmann, via communication No. 64, dated <br /> January 14, 2011, amends Chapter 14, Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended) <br /> by adding a new article relating to plastic bag reduction. <br /> Councilmember Yagong requested recusal from voting on this issue but to be allowed participate <br /> in its discussion and members of the Committee agreed. <br /> At the meeting, two groups totaling about 70 students representing both West Hawaii and <br /> Waimea schools provided consolidated testimonies in support. Other public testimony elicited <br /> 16 testifiers who spoke in favor of Bill 17, and also 26 written statements in support were <br /> distributed. Three testifiers spoke in opposition to the bill and two opposing written testimony <br /> were also distributed. Owner of Island Naturals food stores Russell Ruderman, who testified that <br /> his experience weaning his customers off of paper and plastic bags has resulted in a net reduction <br /> in his cost, was asked to remain for further inquiries from members of the Committee. <br /> Councilmember Hoffmann stated that this bill addresses concerns regarding the prior two <br /> proposals put forth before previous Councils. Hawaii County will also have the further benefit <br /> of reviewing Kauai and Maui Counties experience with implementation of their plastic bag <br /> reduction measures. <br /> Councilmember Ikeda raised concern about who would enforce the ordinance and <br /> Councilmember Onishi requested input from the Police and Finance Departments regarding <br /> enforcement and collection abilities. <br /> Councilmember Ford queried Environmental Management Director Frank DeMarco who related <br /> that he had not been able to peruse the bill or discuss it with Mayor Kenoi and was awaiting to <br /> review the results from the implementation on Maui and Kauai, but agreed to present his <br /> thought on the measure at the next Council meeting. He also responded affirmatively to <br /> Councilmember Pilago's request to present data regarding plastic bags' tonnage to the landfill <br /> waste stream and should the ordinance be implemented, an estimate of tonnage reduction and <br /> anticipated life extension to the Hilo landfill. Councilmember Pilago related that the HI 5 <br /> EMC Report 1 <br />