HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0064.154 2010-2012SAFEWAYIL
August 24, 2011
THE SAFEWAY COMPANfES
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The Honorable Mayor Billy Kenoi
Council Chair, Dominic Yagong,
Council Vice Chair, Pete Hoffman
Council Members Fred Blas, Brenda Ford, Donald Ikeda, Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, K. Angel
Pilago, Brittany Smart, J Yoshimoto:
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Re: Safeway's Support for Single -Use Bag Reduction
Aloha
I am writing today to demonstrate Safeway's support for the intent of Bill 17, Draft 2
which amends Hawai'i County Code 1983 to reduce the use of plastic bags in retail stores
throughout Hawaii County. Safeway operates 19 stores throughout the state and two stores
on the Big Island. We applaud your desire to tackle this important issue. We believe,
however, that it is extremely important to encourage all consumers to reduce the use of
both paper and plastic bags. Both have significant effects on the environment.
We are aware that Maui and Kauai have both already adopted strict plastic bag
bans, however, we believe a fee -based system on both plastic and paper is the preferred
route. The city of San Francisco completely banned plastic bags several years ago — but did
not address the issue of paper bag use. As a retailer with 15 stores in that city, we saw our
costs for paper bags increase substantially — by more than $1 million a year. This figure is in
addition to the costs we were already absorbing to provide paper bags to our customers.
Similarly, we have incurred significant cost increases in Maui and Kauai counties as well as
a result of their plastic bag bans. The shift is not only more expensive, but paper is also more
environmentally damaging to produce than plastic bags.
We believe consumers need a strong disincentive to truly change their behavior. By
placing a fee on both plastic and paper, you will encourage all consumers to think "reusable."
Safeway provides a number of low -cost reusable bag options and we would be happy to
participate in an initial reusable bag give -away program to promote this important concept.
We would also be happy to provide free paper or plastic bags to any customer on such
federally approved low- income programs as WIC or Food Stamps.
We support the council's intent to apply the mandate to all retailers for uniformity.
This will ensure there is no competitive advantage among certain retailers. Should you have
additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (925) 467 -2212 or George
Glukfeld, our Hawaii district manager at (808) 524 -4554.
Sincerely,
Susan M. Houghton
Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations
Comm. No. f • 154
Ref. To:. eremite" Council
Ref. Date AUG 2 5 2011