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TO: Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection <br />FROM: Adrian Hong, President of Island Plastic Bags, Inc. <br />RE: HB 1316 Relating to Packaging Waste <br />POSITION: STONGLY OPPOSE <br />Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony in strong opposition to HB 1316. My name is Adrian <br />Hong and I am the president of Island Plastic Bags Inc. (IPB), a second-generation, family business in <br />Halawa Valley that manufactures plastic trash liners and recycles plastic scraps. The issue of extended <br />producer responsibility (EPR) should be addressed at the federal level in or coordination with as many <br />states as possible. <br />Packaging used in Hawaii is created all over the world. The recycling systems in place now and in the <br />future are not and will not be in Hawaii but on the mainland. As are the experts in packaging design and <br />manufacture. This points to a federal or multi-state response. Each state having their own EPR will lead <br />to inefficiencies and higher expenses that do not lead to better environmental outcomes. A federal or <br />multi-state response will have better resources, expertise, leverage, and reach. <br />Island Plastic Bags is not against the idea of extended producer responsibility. There should be <br />incentives to design packaging so it is easier to recycle and reuse. The company does object to each <br />state having its own EPR. The compliance requirements would be enormous and the outcomes poorer. <br />Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony in strong opposition to HB 1316. Should you have <br />any questions or comments about my testimony you can contact me by email at <br />ahong@islandplasticbags.com or by phone at 808-484-4046. <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />Adrian K. Hong, CPA* <br />President <br />Island Plastic Bags, Inc. <br />www.islandplasticbags.com <br />Email: ahong@islandplasticbags.com|Phone: 808-484-4046 |Fax: 808-488-8505 <br />*Not in public practice <br /> <br />