HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0663.014 2008-2010Attachments: Testimony- 20108_Biglsland -Bill 193_Plastic Bags - Feb -18- Council pdf
Aloha
FROM. Carol Pregill, President, Retail Merchants of Hawaii
County Council, Hawaii County
Thursday, February 18, 2010
9:00 am
Bill 193
Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa
Please see attached for distribution. Thank you.
Carol
Carol Pregill, President
Retail Merchants of Hawaii
1240 Ala Moana Boulevard, Suite 215
Honolulu, HI 96814
Tel (808) 592 -4200 / Fax: (808) 592 -4202
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2/16/2010
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From: Carol Pregill [cpregill@rmhawaii.org] Cin° F[B 1 6
Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 10:33 AM AN 1 0 90
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us C; ,
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Subject: Testimony: Hearing on February 18, 2010 at 9 00 am 4- H ktfv,I]t
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Council Member J Yoshimoto, Chair & Presiding Officer
Council Member Emily I. Naeole- Beason, Vice Chair
County Council
County of Hawaii
HEARING Thursday, February 18, 2010
9:00 am
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RE: Bill 193: An Ordinance Amending Chapter 14, Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as Amended
Adding a New Article Relating to Plastic Baca Reduction.
Chair Yoshimoto, Vice Chair Naeole- Beason, and Members of the Council.
Retail Merchants of Hawaii (RMH) is a not - for - profit trade organization representing 200 members statewide and over
2,000 storefronts, and is committed to support the retail industry and business in general in Hawaii
RMH strongly opposes Bill 193 that prohibits businesses from providing plastic check out bags to their customers.
Hawaii's retailers absolutely support initiatives to preserve and protect our environment The solution to the plastic bag
issue is not in a total ban, but in the wise management of this resource, i e , the "reduce, reuse and recycle" principle.
We unquestionably support the broadest use of reusable tote bags as the ultimate solution, and have been proactive in
providing these for our customers. Additionally, we encourage plastic bag recycling by providing convenient bins at store
entrances, then recycling the collected bags However, we do know that consumers' acceptance and use of reusable
bags will not be universal, affordable or practical at all times.
This measure assumes a one - size - fits -all solution that severely limits consumers' options. There is a cost factor with
reusable bags that could put an unreasonable burden on low- income families Consumers will demand an alternative,
and, as has occurred in mainland cities that have banned plastic bags, the industry will turn to recyclable paper bags for
their customers Recyclable paper bags are up to ten times more expensive than plastic, in actual purchase price and in
increased shipping costs to Hawaii. For every one truck that delivers plastic bags, seven trucks are needed to deliver the
same number of paper bags. The result: higher cost for consumers and needless waste of energy resources.
The stated purpose of this bill is to reduce the use of plastic bags, yet the focus is specific to the free bags provided by
businesses at check out and ignores the multitude of plastic bags available for sale. Consumers report that they reuse
their plastic grocery bags for everyday household tasks like lining waste baskets and sanitary cleaning up after pets. If
these free bags are not available, consumers undoubtedly will purchase plastic bags for these uses
We respectfully submit for your consideration a comprehensive recycling program, similar to those enacted in the State
of California and in New York City. These programs require that defined retailers provide: 1) visible and accessible
collection bins for recycling; 2) reusable bags for purchase and use in lieu of plastic; 3) education via recycling
messages printed on recyclable bags; and 4) that the collected plastic bags are recycled.
RMH is eager to work with the Hawaii County Council, the Department of Environmental Management and Big Island
retailers to develop a partnership, particularly in the critical consumer education component Our mutual goals are to
maximize the usage of reusable bags, to provide plastic bags to consumers for their personal, practical uses, and to
recycle the excess bags, without over - burdening our residents.
Thank you for your consideration and for the opportunity to comment on this measure
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Carol Pregill, President
RETAIL MERCHANTS OF HAWAII
1240 Ala Moana Boulevard, Suite 215
Honolulu, HI 96814
ph: 808 -592 -4200/ fax: 808 -592 -4202