Ordinance 2012-01 Relating to Plastic Bag Reduction

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William P. Kenoi Mayor William T. Takaba Managing Director Walter K.M. Lau Deputy Managing Director County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni Street • Hilo, Hawaii 96720• (808) 961 -8211 • Fax (808) 961 -6553 KONA: 74 -5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg. C • Kailua -Kona, Hawaii 96740 (808) 324 -4444 Fax (808) 323 -4440 N C7 CD January 17, 2012 Members of the Hawaii County Council 25 Aupuni Street 4�: y tea. County of Hawaii Hilo, HI 96720 Dear Council Members: The Hawaii County Council adopted a plastic bag reduction ordinance (Bill 17, Draft 2) on December 21, 2011, and delivered it to me for my signature on December 30, 2011. Following lengthy discussions with members of my administration and community members for and against this measure, I have decided to sign Bill 17, Draft 2, pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 -12 of the Hawaii County Charter, to reduce the use of plastic bags on the Island of Hawaii. Although this legislation strives for an important milestone on the County's path toward Zero Waste, my decision to sign it is not without reservations. Testimony at public hearings and comments received over the past few weeks reflected valid arguments on both sides of the issue. Plastic bags certainly are unwelcome as litter on our landscape, and they can be dangerous to marine mammals that mistakenly ingest them as food. Yet the testimony and comments leaned in favor of vetoing this bill, and I agree with those who say that charging fees for bags may have been a more effective course of action, and with those who say that education and voluntary private /public recycling programs are better ways than government mandates to deal with the littering problem associated with plastic bags. With increasing education, more people already are opting to take their own reusable bags to the markets for shopping without the intrusion of new laws that govern individual behavior. User fees for bags also could help businesses with administrative costs and establish a public fund for community outreach, education and cleanup programs. Yet this bill holds the promise of keeping our island clean, healthy and safe and we need to finish the job. As mandated by the ordinance, the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) will form a working group that will include a variety of viewpoints to prepare administrative rules for implementation of the ordinance within 180 days of County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.