HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0482.278 2024-2026From: Emma Stierhoff
Sent: Monday, November 17, 2025 10:22 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Support Bill 83, Draft 2
Aloha Chair and members of our County Council,
!am writing to urge you to support Bill83, Draft2, and its amendments. This bill would be a huge step
forward for waste reduction on Hawai'i Island.
Plastic pollution is one of the greatest threats to our island's ecosystems and to our health for
generations to come. Every year, more than 11 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean, breaking
down into microplastics that contaminate our air, water, and even human blood, tissues, and organs.
Hawai'i's marine life —turtles, seabirds, and fish —are ingesting plastics at alarming rates, causing
devastating harm to these species, many of which are already endangered. 1 often see plastic cutlery,
straws, and packaging collecting at our beaches, posing a direct threat to all who gather there, be they
fish, bird, or human. Bill 83 directly addresses that issue.
We now have readily available, affordable, and environmentally responsible alternatives— bagasse
(sugarcane fiber), bamboo, paper -based compostables, PLA plant -based containers, and fully
biodegradable cutlery— already being used by many local small businesses who are leading the way.
These products reduce waste, break down naturally, and lighten the burden on our overstressed waste
management system.
Supporting Bill 83 means supporting the health of our reefs, our manu, our communities, and future}
generations. s CDc-�
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Mahalo for taking this critical step forward. _ �=
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Malama pono, =a
EmmaStierhoff - *7U
Hilo, HI 96720
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