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ti <br /> COUNTY CLERK <br /> COUNTY OF HAWAI'I <br /> RECEIVED <br /> Time /:,� M By '/jn/ <br /> Date F4-73. 21i 2-0/7 <br /> CI OCEAN <br /> FRIENDLY <br /> RESTAURANTS <br /> HAWAI`I <br /> Tuesday, February 21St, 2017 <br /> Re: Bill 13 <br /> Members of the Council, <br /> My name is Sarah Rafferty and I am a resident of Kailua Kona, Hawaii. I am a member of the <br /> Kona Surfrider Chapter, and the local representative for the Ocean Friendly Restaurants Hawaii <br /> Coalition- a group of 113 Hawaii restaurants operating successful businesses without using <br /> expanded polystyrene. Thank you, Councilwoman O'Hara, for introducing this bill. <br /> This is my fourth testimony before the council in support of EPS regulation. I'd like to share <br /> several reasons why I keep showing up: <br /> 1) Use of EPS is entirely unnecessary. <br /> There are many alternative products and materials that businesses can easily use in place of EPS. <br /> These alternatives can seal,hold liquid, and insulate hot food. Despite false claims, these <br /> materials are not cost-prohibitive for businesses to supply and use. The business at which I am <br /> employed made the switch to using compostable cups last year on an item for which we gamer <br /> zero cash return-this has not caused any financial hardship. Our customer are pleased to see that <br /> they are spending dollars with a business that considers its own ecological footprint. <br /> 2) EPS is toxic to humans and marine life. <br /> The Material Data Safety Sheet for expanded polystyrene states that EPS will begin to melt at <br /> 175 degrees F. If food is hot enough that you need to blow on it before ingesting, it's likely <br /> around 180 degrees F. Styrene is a known human carcinogen. After it has been used for a few <br /> minutes and tossed aside, it often breaks apart into smaller pieces and finds its way into our <br /> streams and onto our beaches, where it is mistaken for food by birds and other marine life. As a <br /> result, these animals experience intestinal blockage and unintentionally starve to death. <br /> 3) Marine debris control is necessary. <br /> The trash on our beaches and our reefs- while not always locally produced- is now making <br /> national headlines. We can no longer afford to play a contributing role in the proliferation of <br /> toxic garbage in our state. A massive portion of our local economy depends heavily on the <br /> Ref. To <br /> Ref. Date yi; ....._ . <br />