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FROM : FAX NO. : Jul. 45 19160 12:13PM P1 Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawai` . PO_Box 25284 • Honolulu •Hawaii • 96825 COUNTY CLERK (808)393 2168 • www.b-e-a-c-h.org COUNTY OF HAWAI'I RECEIVED Time 7:03 4.4.v By DATE: 8th March,2017 Date 3-8-17 TO: Council Chair Valerie Poindexter,Vice-Chair Karen Eoff and Members of the Hawaii County Council FROM: Suzanne Frazer,President,Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii RE: TESTIMONY IN STRONG SUPPORT OF BILL 13 Draft 2 Relating to reduction of polystyrene foam"styrofoam"food containers and food service wart. Council meeting on Wednesday 8th March,2017 at 9AM. Aloha Chair Poindexter,Vice-Chair Eoff and Members of the Council, I am writing on behalf of Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii(B.E.A.C.H.)in strong support of Bill 13 Draft 2 which will ban all polystyrene food and drink containers includ- ing plates,cups,bowls,trays,carton and clamshell containers from being used for prepared food. All of these food service items are in the top 10 most littered plastic items on beaches. Banning the use of these items will help greatly to reduce plastic litter on beaches. "Styrofoam"is the only plastic that breaks down quicker in water than it does on land. It would be good if this bill included banning the sale of empty polystyrene foam contain- ers and also had language which clarifies that this bill also relates to food served in school cafeterias as children should not be eating out of toxic polystyrene foam at school. Number 6 plastic is rarely recycled and once it is contaminated with food and drinks it is not recyclable. Polystyrene is made from petroleum and contains benzene which is carcinogenic. Polystyrene leaches styrene,a chemical that is toxic to the brain and nervous system and has been found to adversely affect red blood cells,liver,kidney,stomach and cause cancer in animal stud- ies. Styrene is released especially when the container or cup is subjected to heat,so polystyrene foam containers and cups are a very bad choice for hot food and drinks. Oily and acidic foods and drinks also facilitate the migration of styrene from the container into the f --a g y food/drink. Polystyrene food containers have also been shown to have estrogenic activity(EA). Chemicals that cause EA are those that act like a synthetic form of estrogen or block the action of naturally a occuring estrogen in the body and cause endocrine disruption. In humans,chemicals having EA -� can cause prostrate and breast cancer and many reproductive health problems. Unborn children, t.) babies and vounu children are esaeciallv sensitive to low doses of chemicals having EA. m.