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ptemo
Murashige, Laura N MA4. G4
,
From: Molly Jacoby [mol.jac08O9 @gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2011 7:56 AM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Cc: Donna Goodale
Subject: Bill 17
Molly Jacoby and Izzy Biehl
14 Years old
73 -4896 Manu -Mete St. Kailua -Kona 96740 HI
Mol.jac0809@,i4mail.com
Bill 17 - Plastic Bag Reduction
Plastic shopping bags ( "PSBs ") adversely effect our environment, animals, people, and result in a high demand for
polyethylene, a fossil fuel product. 500 billion to 1 trillion PSBs are consumed each year around the world. Plastic is made from
fossil fuels, as is gasoline. Thus, plastic bag manufacturing consumes fossil fuel that could be used for other, more important,
purposes. By reducing or eliminating PSB use we can greatly reduce the amount of fossil fuels consumed, thus benefiting the
environment. PSBs effect our environment, animals, people, and have a high demand for polyethylene.
PSBs adversely effect the environment. It takes 1,000 years for PSBs to break down. Even when they are "broken
down," PSBs are still not completely disintegrated. Since the PSBs are made from polyethylene, even when they are "broken -
down" they are still very toxic. It also causes air pollution from when the PSBs produced in factories. Americans use
approximately 1 trillion PSBs per year. Of those 500 billion though 1 trillion PSBs, 1% are recycled. As polyethylene breaks
down, toxic substances leak into the soil and then enter the food chain.
Approximately 1 billion seabirds and mammals die per year by ingesting PSBs. Animals die from suffocating,
dehydration, and starvation from the PSBs. When the animals eat the PSBs, they clog their intestines, preventing absorption of
food and water. Sometimes the PSBs also get wrapped around their necks and stop their breathing, and can stop their circulation.
In 2008 a 10 ft alligator died from eating 25 PSBs. 171 different species of animals wash up on the beaches dead from PSBs
each year.
Wild animals are not the only ones that can die from PSBs. Sometimes babies will find the PSBs around the house or
maybe on the street. They could easily get their heads stuck in it and suffocate. 25 babies die each year in the United States from
suffocating on PSBs. A viable solution to PSB use is the use of biodegradable paper bags or reusable cloth bags. One store that
has taken action to this problem and doesn't use PSBs is Costco. They reuse packing boxes to load all the items in. Widespread
use of these solutions could prevent many deaths and make the world a safer and cleaner environment for all to live in.
PSBs negatively affect our planet, and this needs to be changed before it's too late. Reducing the amount of PSBs being
consumed will bring us one step closer to a healthy environment for us to live in. So, if you see a PSB blowing around on the
street, do your part and pick it up; you will be making a difference.
Comm. No. �•
Ref. To: CMG
1/31/2011
ref. Date FEB 1 2