HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0064.058 2010-2012 Page 1 of 1
PAWN=
a
ige
Murash, Laura
. _w
From: Donna R. Goodale [donna @goodale.org]
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2011 6:57 PM { L
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: FW: Testimony for Bill #17 ,
From: stephen Gonzalez [ mailto :stephengonzalez5455 @gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, January 31, 20119:09 AM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.us
Cc: dgoodale @hualalai.org
Subject: Testimony for Bill #17
What are plastic bags made of? They made of polyethylene and natural gasses. These
resources are not renewable. When we run low on these supplies, it increases our dependency on
foreign suppliers. These suppliers don't want to give these resources to us, causing wars. This adds the
cost of human lives to the cost of production, and transportation. Transporting the plastic bags enlarges
our carbon footprint, and adds even more to the cost. Even if a plastic bag is recycled, it takes $4000
dollars to recycle one ton, which then can only be sold for $40 dollars at best. Now if we don't reduce
the amount of plastic bags, we would increase the amount of bags littered, and discarded. Recycling
would help because the plastic bags that are recycled are made into composite wood; a substitute
wood made of recycled plastic materials and sawdust. This composite wood can then be used around
the community for playgrounds, and parks.
What really happens when we recycle are plastic bags? 3% of the bags are recycled or
reused. These are the steps to recycling a plastic bag. You first take the plastic bag(s) to your
local grocery store. Then, then, the grocery store transports the bags to a processing plant that will
either make new bags, or composite wood.
A reusable bag is good because not only do you get payed from the store, you help by not
polluting. People say that cloth reusable bags grow bacteria, and that cloth bags can't hold half the
weight as a plastic bag. When you say that cloth bags are weaker than the plastics, that is a very vague
comment. All clothe bags are made with different materials, therefore some are stronger, and others
are weaker. If you are lugging around pounds of groceries, just buy a thicker bag. And, yes clothe bags
do grow bacteria after a while, so that is why you wash them. It's just responsibility.
(this paragraph can and might not be used) - These following states and countries banned bags;
south Africa Kenya, California, Taiwan, China, Australia, Italy, Republic of Ireland, and Honolulu. After
the bill to reduce the amount of bags used on this island, we should ban plastic bags completely all -
together. We have the power to make a change, so why not use that power.
Reid Austin
Stephen Gonzalez
Kyle Hollister -- This message has been checked by ESVA and is believed to be clean.
Comm. No.
Ref. To: e+6Af COw
2/15/2011 Ref. Date FER 1 6 Zill
Page 1 of 1
P�c�uN
�t
Mur ash ige, Laura
From: Donna R. Goodale [donna @goodale.org]
i
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2011 6:57 PM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: FW: Bill 17, Plastic Bag Reduction
From: Sarah Bellatti [mailto:luvbugapplejack @gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, January 28, 20119:25 AM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.vs
Cc: dgoodale @hualalai.org
Subject: Bill 17, Plastic Bag Reduction
Testimony for Bill 17 (Plastic Bag Reduction)
Sarah Bellatti Emily Dungate
12 12
P.O. Box 637, Kealakekua, HI 96750 75 -5491 G Mamalahoa Hwy Holualoa 96725
sarah.bella.tt 7-a yahoo.co -m emi_ly_du @ gmail.com
Dear County Council Members,
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. These three words represent reducing, the quantity of which we use,
reusing, how we save it and put it to good use, and recycle, to reproduce the item. Right now, plastic
bags are hardly being reduced, reused, or recycled, which is a big disappointment. So far, its not robots
that are going to take over the world. Its plastic bags, and they've already begun their invasion.
There are MANY problems with plastic bags. First of all, they are scattered all over the world!
Second of all, they are unsightly to look at, they kill animals AND human babies, create air pollution
when incinerated, are photo - degradable, use oil to create, and we pay for them in stores, also called a
green fee. These are just some of the issues with plastic bags.
When I mean that they are all over the place, I mean you can see them from the East to the
West, North to South. From landfills to the sea, to by the side of the road. As many people know, lots of
tourists travel to Hawaii to sea all of the beautiful scenery. If Hawaii gets littered even more with plastic
bags, that could effect tourism, which is a big part of Hawaii's economic system. That, would be bad.
Not to mention, that most of America, is already in an economic crisis.
Plastic bags also kill life, animals AND humans. They make up 90% of ocean trash and kill
around 1 million marine life each year. Land animals also suffer from our mistakes, including cows,
horses, dogs, birds, and some others. These animals have painful deaths, either by ingestion or are
choked to death. Human babies also mistake plastic bags as toys or simply something to eat, and they,
suffocate or choke and die.
One of the reasons that plastic bags haven't stopped being used is because they cost less then
a penny to create. Their effect on the environment though, is much, MUCH, more. So how about using
reusable shopping bags? They carry 2 to 3 times more then a regular old plastic bag does, they last
many years, and they cost around $1. Sounds reasonable and it is.
As Mahatma Gandhi once said "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." So if we
wish to see our world clean and green, we need to take charge and change our ways with plastic bags,
starting with reducing the amount we use. Lets pass bill number 17, Plastic Bag Reduction, and see our
world happier and healthier, WITHOUT plastic shopping bags!
Thank you,
Sarah Bellatti and Emily Dungate
-- This message has been checked by ESVA and is believed to be clean.
2/15/2011