HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0482.358 2024-2026From: Tanya Anne
Sent: Tuesday, December 2, 2025 8:16 PM
To: Council Testimony
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Subject: Bill 83 Draft 2 - Strong Support
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Hawai'i County Council
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
9:OOAM
RE: Bill 83 - Relating to Reduction of Plastic Foodware - Strong Support
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Dear Chair Inaba, Vice Chair Onishi, and Members of the Council,
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Bravo to all of us who refuse to give up on Bill 83.
Honestly, its wild that in a world dealing with genocide, political inertia, and corruption on tap, we still have to wrestle dinosaurs over something
as simple as reducing plastic. Yet here we are. I
The Department of Environmental Management claims Bill 83 is an unfunded mandate that requires "significant enhancement" to their capacity,
including new or increased enforcement systems, and substantial outreach and education efforts." If adding one more prohibited material
requires "significant enhancement" of capacity, then the issue isn't the bill, it's the department.
And let's be honest: these objections are not new. This is DEM's Greatest Hits album, still available on vinyl. Every time the County tries to
reduce waste, i.e., polystyrene, plastic bags, non -mineral sunscreen, we get the same track list:
We need more staff. More time. It's too complex. We need more outreach, more analysis.
At some point, this dramatic pattern becomes the story. So allow me a little drama of my own:
"Oh, my dear Councilmembers, what a significant administrative burden you are placing upon us," sighs DEM, collapsing like a Victorian
heiress onto a fainting couch. "Oh dear goodness, Councilmembers, can you believe it? Compost! Whatevershall we do?"
Apparently banning plastic bento boxes creates enforcement challenges like an executive order from the orange POTUS himself. "The
department is not prepared to implement at this time," which is DEM's way of saying there's never a good time
to do ourjob. This is an egregious example of institutional behavior. The 2019Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan and Zero Waste Plan
both forecasted the need to phase out plastics and build organics capacity. DEM has had six years to prepare. Bill 83 isn't sudden or
unanticipated. Bill 83 doesn't overwhelm DEM. DEM overwhelms DEM.
And to those who say since we don't have a composting system... so we shouldn't pass the bill that would push us to build a composting
system, I say: I don't have a gym membership, so I can't start exercising.,. until I start exercising... so I can get a gym membership. This is III -
conceived, circular logic.
Compostables going to the landfill temporarily is part of the transition.
Plastics going to the landfill forever is the status quo.
'Nuff excuses already. Let's do this, if not for us, or the 'aina, for our keiki and their future.
Tanya Yamanaka Aynessazian
Hilo
Comm. JJo
Ref. To:
Ref. Dote EC - 3 2025