HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0482.115 2024-2026FOODSERVICE. GROCERY HOSPITALITY
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To: Hawaii County Council
Policy Committee on Environmental and Natural Resources Management
From: Stephen Ueda "'
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President & CEO, Suisan Company, Limited o
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October8,2025
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RE: BiIt 83— Relating to Plastic and Polystyrene We Ste
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Position: Oppose (with recommendations)
Dear Chair Villegas, Vice Chair Kagiwada, and Members of the Committee:
My name is Stephen Ueda, and I am the President and CEO of Suisan Company, Limited.
Suisan is a local, family -owned business that has served Hawaii Island since 1907. We
supply food and packaging to more than 1,200 restaurants, schools, and stores across the
island. s
After gathering feedback from our customers, I believe that Bill83 would create problems
for local businesses and raise food prices —without helping the environment in a tangible
way.
1. No Composting Facility
Right now, Hawai'i County does not have a composting facility that can process the
containers required under this bill. That means even "compostable" packaging will still
end up in the landfill.
If the County wants to ban certain materials, there should first be a system in place to
process the new materials properly. Otherwise, we are adding cost without reducing
waste.
Suisan Company, Limited
333 Kilauea Avenue, Suite 202, Hilo, HI 96720-3013
Tel: (808) 935 - 85111 Fax: (808) 935 - 2737 Comm.
www.suisan.com Ref. To:
Ref. Dote nrT _ R Ac5
2. Higher Costs for Businesses and Families
Restaurants and takeout spots depend on the containers and utensils this bill would ban.
The compostable versions are much more expensive:
Compostable forks cost twice as much as current plastic forks.
• Compostable containers cost about 40% more than the containers most places use
today.
When small businesses pay more for supplies, they have no choice but to raise prices.
That means families end up paying more for meals, at a time when everything is already
more expensive.
3. Food Safety and Quality Problems
Our customers have tested these compostable products, and they do not hold up well in
real life.
• Hot or oilyfood leaks through or melts the lid.
• Compostable forks and spoons break or get soft in hot foods or soups.
As one local restaurant owner said, "The compostable container leaks —you can't store
the food too long, and the cover melts."
If containers fail, the food becomes unsafe, and customers lose trust in local businesses.
4. Different Rules Across Counties
Each county in Hawaii has its own packaging rules, which makes things very confusing for
businesses that sell in more than one county.
We support making Hawaii County's rules match Honolulu's law (Ordinance 19-30). That
law already gives businesses and the environment a fair balance and is something many
suppliers already follow.
5. Better Ways to Improve the Bill
Instead of a full ban, we suggest a few changes to make the bill more realistic:
1. Allow Type 5 (polypropylene) plastics —These are reusable, recyclable, and safe for
hot food. They are a practical and proven option.
2. Match Honolulu's rules —So all counties have the same standard.
3. Wait until composting facilities exist— Do not require materials that the island
cannot process yet.
4. Study the economic impact —Understand how much this change would really cost
small businesses and customers before passing it.
6. Conclusion
Everyone wants to protect Hawai'i's environment —we do too. But Bill 83 goes too far, too
fast. It raises costs, makes food packaging less safe, and does not reduce landfill waste
because the right facilities do not exist yet.
We ask the Committee to hold off on passing this bill and take more time to build the
infrastructure and find solutions that truly work for our island.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
Stephen Ueda
President & CEO
Suisan Company, Limited