HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0064.149 2010-2012Page 1 of 1
Murashige, Laura
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From: Sue Vang [suevang @cawrecycles.org]
Sent: Friday, July 08, 2011 10:24 AM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Bill 17 Distribution of Plastic Bags - SUPPORT
Attachments: C4R testimony Hawaii County Bill 17.pdf
Dear Sir or Madam:
On behalf of Campaign for Recycling, please accept this testimony for the July 13 hearing on Bill 17, regarding
distribution of plastic bags. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Sue Vang
Policy Associate I Campaign For Recycling
921 11th Street, Suite 420 I Sacramento, CA 95814
(p) 916 - 551 -1751 I (f) 916 - 443 -3912
www.campaignforrecycling.org
Comm. No.
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M'AIGN FOR RECYCLING
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Written testimony in favor of Bill 17, before the Hawaii County Council.
Campaign for Recycling (C4R), a national organization that advocates for waste reduction
and recycling laws, strongly supports Bill 17, which amends Chapter 14 of the Hawaii County
Code and prohibits distribution of single -use carryout plastic bags.
Recycling is not a solution
C4R has worked with retailers, bag manufacturers and local governments in an effort to try to
manage single -use plastic bags through recycling. However, in California, despite establishing
the state's largest collection infrastructure for any single material, efforts to manage single -use
plastic bags through recycling have failed. The statewide recycling rate in 2009 was a mere 3 %.
Furthermore, the small percentage that is recycled is cost - prohibitive, as the market price for
bales of plastic bags is substantially offset by the logistical costs of collecting, transporting, and
handling the bags for baling.
Plastic bags harm the environment
Single -use plastic bags are a costly, environmentally damaging, and easily preventable source of
litter and pollution. Light and aerodynamic, plastic bags are uniquely litter -prone even when
properly disposed of, and pose a serious threat to the marine environment. When they are no
longer visible to the naked eye, plastic bags are still not fully gone but instead have broken down
through photo- degradation into tiny particles. These particles then attract surrounding toxins and,
when mistaken as a food source, contaminate the food chain.
Cleanups are costly
Plastic bags are easily transported into the environment to clog storm drains, litter beaches, and
in general become a visual blight. The cleanup of this type of litter is no small endeavor, costing
the state thousands, if not more, in taxpayer dollars each year.
Safe alternatives to single -use bags
Recent claims about the safety of reusable bags, the environmentally superior alternative to
single -use bags, are misleading. There may be some amount of lead in the dyes used in some
bags (and clothes and dishware) made in China, but many popular and convenient reusable bags
have been certified to be lead free and other hazardous materials. Furthermore, there is zero
evidence that reusable bags contain anything close to dangerous levels of bacteria, or that the
e.coli strains found during a recent industry- funded study are in fact dangerous.
Banning single -use plastic bags is widely considered an appropriate and practical action that can
protect our environment and save financial resources. We do not believe there should be any
more delay in moving forward with this ban, as residents have had adequate opportunity and
time to comment at the previous public hearings, and we urge your support of this bill.
921 11'° Street, Ste 420 • Sacramento, CA 95814 • (916) 443 -5422 • (916) 443 -3912 (Fax) • www.carnpaignforrecycllnrg.org