HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0482.108 2024-2026P/PcEivw
Lilt 83
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From: Cory
Sent: Monday, October 6, 20258:09 AM
Subject: comments Bill 83 - plastic - PCENR Oct 8
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comments on Bill 83
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for Policy Committee on Environmental and Natural Resource Management
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11 AM Wednesday, October 8, 2025, Hilo chambers
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from Cory Harden
I strongly support this bill, but suggest some revisions.
Re. Section 3, definitions:
On other islands, food providers have gotten around similar bills by simply using thicker plastic and saying it's reusable.
So for "disposable" add "any material that is not reusable"
For "reusable"
strengthen the definition so it applies only to items in a functioning return and wash system.*
add language, after consultation with community groups, to ensure the materials utilized for reusables are
environmentally friendly.
Re. Section 5
Explicitly include "reusable" in the operative language of the bill, notjust in a section title.*
There is some talk about dropping reusables from the bill, but I do not support this.
Keeping reusables in.the bill gives food providers more options, which may lead more people to support the bill.
The County has invested time and effort in supporting reusables and securing funding for a reusables program. We should
build on this investment, not let it go to waste.
If we wait and put reusables in a separate bill, food providers may have already invested in other types of foodware,
making it burdensome for them to put time, effort, and money into another major change to accomodate reusables.
*recommendation from Hawaii Environmental Change Agents