HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0482.127 2024-2026P /PCENRM
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Let's make good food together!
To: Hawai'i County Council
Policy Committee on Environmental and Natural Resources Management
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From: Stephen Ueda o
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President & CEO, Suisan Company, Limited
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October21,2025
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RE: Bill 83—Relating to Plastic and Polystyrene Waste
Position: Oppose (with recommendations) N
Aloha 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.
We are a local business that's been part of Hawai'i Island since 1907. Today, we supply
food and packaging to more than 1,200 local restaurants, schools, and stores.
I agree with the goal of protecting the environment. But Bill 83, as it's written now, won't
achieve that goal. Instead, it will raise costs for small businesses and families, and make
daily operations harder without meaningfully reducingwaste.
1. The County Doesn't Have the Right Facilities Yet
The bill expects businesses to switch to compostable containers. But Hawaii County
doesn't have a composting facility that can process them.
That means even if businesses follow the rules, those "compostable" containers will still
go into the landfill. So, the environment doesn't actually benefit.
A bill that focuses on composting needs to have the right system in place first. Otherwise,
it just adds cost without solving the problem.
2. Higher Costs for Local Businesses and Families
Compostable containers and utensils cost more than the ones businesses use now.
Compostable forks cost about twice as much. as regular plastic forks.
Suisan Company, Limited
333 Kilauea Avenue, Suite 202, Hilo, HI 96720-3013 comm.
Tel: (808) 935 - 85111 Fax: (808) 935 - 2737
w .suisan.com Ref. To:
Ref. Date+
• Compostable containers cost around 40% more than the containers most
restaurants use.
For small, family -owned restaurants, these costs add up fast. In the end, customers will
pay more for the same plate lunch or bento.
3. Compostable Products Don't Always Work Welt
Many of our customers have tried these compostable products. Theytell us:
Hot or oilyfoods leak through or make the containers warp.
. Lids soften or melt when holding hot food.
Utensils break easily in liquids.
Local food often includes hot stews, plate lunches, poke, or fried dishes. If the containers
don't work well, it hurts both businesses and customers.
4. Different Rules Make Things Harder
Many food businesses work on more than one island. When every county has different
packaging rules, it's confusing and expensive.
If the rules were more consistent between islands, it would be easier for everyone to follow
and cheaper to do business.
5. Better Ways to Make the Bill Work
The goals of the bill are good. But to make it work better, I suggest:
1. Allow Type 5 (polypropylene) plastics —These are reusable, recyclable, and safe for
hotfoods.
2. Phase in the changes overtime —so the County can build the right composting
facilities first.
3. Match rules with other counties —to make it easier for businesses to comply.
4. Study the real costs first —so there are no surprises for small businesses and
customers.
5. Make sure the products required actually work for real food service situations.
6. Conclusion
We all want to protect Hawai'i's environment. But Bill 83 as it is now won't meet its goals. It
will cost more, create practical problems for businesses, and won't reduce landfill waste.
I encourage the Committee to make changes to the bill or delay it until the right systems
are in place. That way, we can protect the environment in away that's realistic and fair for
Local businesses and families.
Mahalo for listening to my testimony.
Respectfully submitted,
Stephen Ueda
President & CEO
Suisan Company, Limited