2021-08-25 EMC Agenda item 5-b(1) - Final-PSRWG-Report-to-Leg

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fork and a straw, the fee would be the same. The fee would apply to any single-use serviceware whether it is plastic, paper, compostable, or otherwise. The fee should be applied to eachset of service ware (i.e., if the order includes four forks and four straws, the fee would be applied four times). This fee would not be applied to cups, lids, containers, or bags. Another 15-30 cent fee would apply to each single-use carryout bag. A 15-cent fee per bagis currently enacted for the City and County of Honolulu. The Working Group recommends that the fee collection process be modeled after the City and County of Honolulu bag fee. These fees would be paid by the consumers to the businesses. Businesses will retain all the fees collected but must treat those as income and pay general income tax. 4. Enact a tax credit for businesses that invest in modern commercial reuse and washing equipment that reduce the use of plastics in the waste stream. Discussion Create a 10-year window and sunset provision of tax incentives for businesses that startoffering consumers the option to use their own, to use business-provided reusable, or third-partyreusable containers when making take-out orders from restaurants and when making bulk purchases; for existing businesses that invest in new sanitizing equipment to promote reuse over disposal;and for startup businesses that provide water and energy-efficient sanitizing services to other businesses. The State and the counties will reduce costs in the long run by minimizing the amount of waste they have to deal with, but businesses need to be incentivized to make changes. Those changes will help drive consumer behavior. 5. Organize, finance, and conduct a pilot project that tests the efficacy and expense of making UV-C or other sanitizing technology available. Discussion UV-C and other new sterilization technologies may provide opportunities for businesses tosterilize reusable containers and bags. This Working Group recommends the exploration of the functionality of these technologies with a pilot project. 6. Establish a 5-year State-facilitated education campaign about waste reduction. Discussion In order to effectively promote changed consumer behavior, the campaign must explain in simple terms the web of connectivity and the relationship between supply and demand. The focus is to change the whole awareness rather than only individual consumer behavior. The State of Hawaii might also set up a website that serves as a resource. The campaign should make the non-use of plastics engaging and achievable and be able to communicate effectively to a broad spectrum of public audiences (for residents and visitors). Regardless of whether the State contracts a third-party firm to develop and run the campaign or decides to run the campaign in-house, language must be added to require the State to add a funding source. Current resources are not adequate for a state agency to run this type of proposed campaign. 8