HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0482.296 2024-2026From: Alesha Makuakane a
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Sent: Tuesday, December 2, 2025 10:11 AM
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To: Council Testimony
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Subject: Roxie Castaneda Support Bill 83 i
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Aloha County Council Members, Q�>--_'w=
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My name is Roxie Castaneda, I'm a sophomore at Kau High School & I'm in
support of Bill 83 because this is a critical step toward protecting our
environment, public health, & future generations. Single -use plastics, especially
for foodware, contribute significantly to pollution and despite recycling efforts,
like
Kona said, most of this plastic ends up in our landfill & the ocean, where it breaks,
down into microplastics that enter our food chain.
Just recently in October, we held a zero -waste youth convergence where we
used compostable foodware & instead of throwing them away, we used the
compostable foodware for our in -vessel composting unit, where it broke down
easily over night.
Our in -vessel composting unit is an innovative solution that transforms food
scraps & compostable foodware into nutrient -rich soil while also reducing
methane emissions. Our program complements this by promoting waste
reduction & other zero -waste practices,
As Waileia said, our goal is to prevent waste from going into our landfill.
We educate communities & other schools on proper waste separation &
encourage those practices that minimize single -use items. Together, these
solutions can create a circular system, reducing waste at the source, using
compostable materials as an alternative, & fostering sustainable practices. This
bill not only addresses the plastic pollution crisis but also supports healthier
communities & environmental resilience.
This is why we are in support of bill 83 as it helps expand & solidify zero -waste
initiatives and helps programs like ours continue to expand our important work.
Thank you for your time & consideration.
Mahato, 1 Comm.
Roxie Castaneda
Ref. To: 1
1 Ref. Dote
Naalehu 96772
Me ke aloha,
Ulu Makuakane
Recycle Hawaii - EPA REO Grant Program Program Director
www recyclehawaii orc�