HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0663.010 2008-2010Murashige, Laura
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2010 02 - Council
Testimony Bi...
Thank you very much,
Toby Taniguchi
KTA Super Stores
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Toby Taniguchi [ toby_taniguchi @ktasuperstores.c
Sunday, January 31, 2010 1.35 PM
counciltestimony @co.hawaii hi.us
toby_taniguchi @ktasuperstores corn
Council Testimony Bill 193
2010 02 - Council Testimony Bill 193.pdf
To Whom it May concern:
Attached, please find my written testimony, relative to
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Bill 193.
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Ref. To: VI E M L
Ref. Dote FEB 0 2 2010
January 31, 2010
The Honorable J Yoshimoto & Members of the Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Re: Bill 193 — Relating to Plastic Bags
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Chairman Yoshimoto and Members of the County Council:
While I personally recognize and support the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling, I believe Bill
SI , relating to plastic bag use reduction and encouragement of environmentally preferable alternatives,
does not address the root problem and will create unforeseen negative consequences. I am therefore
against the passage of this bill.
The fact is we must work toward reducing the total number of "single -use" bags of ALL types (not just
plastic). The banning of plastic, in my opinion, will simply increase the consumption of "single -use"
paper bags, and does not truly solve the root problem. Furthermore, and in all likelihood, the increase
of paper bag use will simply increase costs for consumers, while at the same time, leave a bigger carbon
footprint on our environment.
While plastic does have its downside, other products such as paper bags and compostables do so as
well. Paper and other compostable options are often times more expensive and require more energy
and raw resources to produce. For example, a paper bag is about six (6) times more voluminous than
plastic bags, which would mean retailers would be forced to ship about six (6) times more frequently, to
allow for the handling of the same amount of product. Second, it takes about 90% more energy to
produce paper bags over plastic. So the question becomes, will we really be doing our environment a
favor by simply banning plastic?
The banning of any type of bag is, in my opinion, not the solution. Once again, I believe such action will
simply divert consumers from single -use bags made of one material, to single -use bags made of another.
Instead, I believe one of the solutions lies simply in the encouragement and /or incentivizing of reusable
bags. Another possible solution, where more study might be placed would be in the creation of a long-
term "waste -to- energy" plan, addressing a multitude of waste stream materials,
Again, I submit to you, the banning of plastic without an effort to fund, educate and encourage
individuals to move away from single -use bags, while adopting more "green" practices, will simply just
increase the use of paper bags, which will ultimately have both unintended and negative consequences.
Collectively, what we ought to endeavor toward is the education and transformation of societal
behaviors toward reusable bags, and away from single -use bags of a y type.
50 E. Pua,nako St. — Hilo, HI 96720 —808-959-4575 — 808 - 959 -8050 (fax)
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For your information, KTA Super Stores currently provides both associates and customers with a variety
of reduction, recycling and reusing options. These include, but are not limited to:
• We sell an assortment of reusable bags, as well as encourage customers to utilize their own
reusable or recycled grocery bags whenever possible;
• We credit customers with up to a nickel, for each bag we do NOT have to provide in our
operation;
• We encourage the recycling of plastic bags by having collection stations at our stores, as well as
collect other "back -of- house" plastics used in our operations (e.g. pallet shrink wrap,
merchandise case packaging, bale wraps, etc.), which are then transported to a licensed, locally
owned and operated recycling agent;
• We have invested in two (2) sizable photovoltaic systems at both our Waimea and Kailua -Kona
stores, the first retail grocer in the state to do so, thereby reducing our overall carbon emission;
Once again, while I certainly recognize and support the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling,
I believe Bill 193 is inherently flawed, and will bring about both unintended and negative consequences.
It is for this reason; I cannot support the passage of such legislation, and ask for your consideration.
As community stakeholders, we should all strive to educate the public about proper disposal methods of
all waste materials, as well as encourage one another to make recycling, reducing and reusing simple
and convenient for all.
Respectfully submitted,
Pat 'is a
Toby Taniguchi
Executive Vice President
Store Operations
50 E. Puainako St. — Hilo, HI 96720— 808 - 959 -4575 — 808 - 959 -8050 (fox)