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

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Bruce Iverson, Director of Marketing and Development Reynolds Recycling Aloha, It has been an honor to work with the Act 254, Plastic Source Reduction Working Group, and join with other members passionate efforts to combat the proliferation of plastic waste in our island community. While we are from various groups: environmental, governmental, business, and recycling, we were able to come together on common ground and make recommendations that will move Hawaii forward in reducing various forms of plastic waste, and encourage other technologies, such as composting at home and regional levels, throughout the islands. I hope that the legislature will use the common sense results that were produced to assist in creating laws that will help the different stakeholders to bond together in their efforts to deal with plastic waste in the most environmentally sound and fiscally responsible ways possible. Finding ways to encourage the utilization of other more environmentally friendly materials, the reduction of the total amounts of plastic used, and the elimination of forms and combinations of materials that will make recycling of plastics more difficult for both the public and business, are all ideas that need to be addressed. While a small island community, we have lots of great ideas towards making this work here, but need a legislative push to guarantee that the change is such that the business community can find a set of on certain materials or combinations of materials are thoughtfully phased in, and allow for adequate replacements to be made available. Ultimately plastic is just a material, neither inherently good nor evil, but one that needs to be managed to ensure that the good it has done is not outstripped by the problems that some aspects of that same material create in the natural environment. As a recycling company, Reynolds Recycling is always working to help keep Hawaii beautiful, and hope that we can continue to do so well into the future. 21