Laserfiche WebLink
Mtvloc N <br /> COUNTY OF HAWAII . '=.-,.'/ STATE OF HAWAII <br /> OF _. <br /> BILL NO. 13 <br /> ORDINANCE NO. (DRAFT 2) <br /> AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 20, OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983 <br /> (2016 EDITION,AS AMENDED), BY ADDING A NEW ARTICLE RELATING TO <br /> REDUCTION OF POLYSTYRENE FOAM "STYROFOAM" FOOD CONTAINERS <br /> AND FOOD SERVICE WARE. <br /> BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII: <br /> SECTION 1. Chapter 20, Hawai`i County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended), is <br /> amended by adding a new article to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: <br /> "Article_. Polystyrene Foam Food Container and <br /> Food Service Ware Reduction. <br /> Division 1. General Provisions. <br /> Section 20-_. Findings and purpose. <br /> Solid waste that is nondegradable or nonrecyclable poses unique problems for <br /> an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Disposal of such waste either takes up <br /> valuable air space in existing landfills or ends up as litter, sometimes in our marine <br /> environment. <br /> Polystyrene foam, sometimes incorrectly referred to as "Styrofoam," is neither <br /> degradable nor compostable. It is made from non-renewable fossil fuels and <br /> synthetic chemicals that can leach out over time into the environment, especially <br /> after contact with hot, greasy, or acidic foods. When discarded, polystyrene foam <br /> often breaks into tiny pieces, is mistaken for food and ingested by land and marine <br /> animals, including birds and fish. This is detrimental not only to wildlife but to <br /> other life forms in the food chain. <br /> In view of the detrimental impacts of this substance in Hawai`i County, it is <br /> the purpose of this article to reduce the use of polystyrene foam food containers and <br /> food service ware, to supermarkets and other vendors to eliminate the use of <br /> polystyrene foam for packaging unprepared food, and thereby promote the use of <br /> environmentally preferable alternatives. <br /> Although foods packaged outside of the limits of Hawai`i County are <br /> excluded from the provisions of this article, the purveyors of foods prepackaged <br /> outside of the limits of Hawai'i County are encouraged to follow these provisions <br />