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Report for Ad Hoc Committee on the Polystyrene Reduction Bill (Bill 13-17) <br /> Members: Eileen O'Hara (Chair),Tim Richards (Vice Chair), Karen Eoff, and Dru Kanuha <br /> Bill 13-17 was introduced to the County Council by Councilmember Eileen O'Hara in the <br /> Environmental Management Committee on 2/21/17. An amended version (Draft 2) was passed <br /> with 5 "yea" votes, 3 "no" votes and one member absent. Bill 13-17, Draft 2 then moved on to <br /> Councilwith a positive recommendation for a hearing on March 8, 2017. At the Council, Draft 2 <br /> was presented. It was decided to postpone the bill at the call of the Chair and form a 4-person <br /> Ad Hoc committee to obtain more information before returning the bill to Council. <br /> April 17- By email, the Chair sent the Ad Hoc Committee members copies of 12 recent and <br /> similarly intended limited polystyrene bans passed at either the municipal or county level, along <br /> with a PowerPoint presentation about Bill 13 and the current draft of the Maui County bill <br /> which passed first read in December 2016 and was still in process at that point. <br /> April 19—Held a face-to-face meeting in the Kailua-Kona conference room of the County <br /> Council offices. Discussion focused on the financial impacts to businesses, dates of <br /> implementation, and methods of identifying unmarked foam containers for the purpose of <br /> enforcement. The Chair reported that EPS (expanded polystyrene) melts and congeals into a <br /> hard plug when dipped in acetone so there appears to be an easy way to identify unmarked <br /> containers. It was decided that due to delays in the bill, dates of implementation needed to be <br /> adjusted. The members of the group decided to do their own independent research on <br /> financial impacts to businesses. Ms. Eoff offered to contact a national group that has supported <br /> development of public policy on polystyrene and send on those contacts should the group need <br /> to consult additional expertise. <br /> May 24-Following the passage of the Maui County limited polystyrene ban, a copy of that final <br /> bill and background information entertained by the Maui Council was disseminated to the Ad <br /> Hoc committee by email. <br /> June 5-The Chair requested assistance from the Hawaii County recycling coordinator and staff <br /> regarding a definition for "recyclables" needed in the bill. The Department of Environmental <br /> Management staff assisted and sent back a definition that can be used in the bill. <br /> June 6-The Chair submitted a transmittal to place the Ad Hoc committee's report on the June <br /> 23, 2017 meeting of the Council. The Chair will give the report and recommend that a Draft 3 <br /> of the bill containing the new definition for "recyclables", new implementation dates, and <br /> exempting polystyrene egg cartons, be forward to the Environmental Management Commission <br /> for their review at the July meeting of that body. <br /> June 7-A short face-to-face meeting was held of the Ad Hoc committee to bring everyone up <br /> to speed and hash out any new adjustments to the bill. <br />