HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0064.155 2010-2012Lance N. Tanaka
Manager, Government & Public Affairs
TO:
August 25, 2011
The Honorable Dominic Yagong, Chair
The Honorable Pete Hoffmann, Vice Chair
and Members of the Hawaii County Council
TESORO
Tesoro Hawaii Corporation
91 -325 Komohana Street
Kapolei, Hawaii 96707 -1713
808 547 -3113
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SUBJECT: Bill 17, Draft 2 — Amends Chapter 14, Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005'm;
Edition, as amended) by adding a new article relating to plastic bag reductio (.14 d
n
Hearing of the Hawaii County Council
Thursday, August 25, 2011
5:00 p.m., Hilo Council Room, 25 Aupuni Street,
First Floor, Room 1401, Hilo
Dear Chair Yagong, Vice Chair Hoffmann and Council members:
My name is Lance Tanaka, government and public affairs manager for Tesoro Hawaii
Corporation. Thank you for this opportunity to present written testimony on Bill 17, Draft 2.
Tesoro Hawaii operates 2Go® convenience stores at Tesoro gasoline stations on the islands of
Oahu, Maui and Hawaii.
Tesoro Hawaii opposes Bill 17, Draft 2 as worded and offers the following comments.
Tesoro Hawaii appreciates the Council's diligent efforts to regulate the use of plastic
bags in complying with policies set forth in the Hawaii County General Plan, Environmental
Quality Element 4.3. However, we believe that banning plastic bags and encouraging the use of
paper bags as an environmentally preferable alternative runs counter to those policies.
We would note that evidence does not support the use of paper bags in place of plastic
bags as an environmentally friendly alternative. That is because the process of producing paper
bags creates 70% more air pollutants and 50 times more water pollutants than during the
production of plastic bags. Additionally, paper bags are six to eight times more voluminous than
plastic when storing, while shipping costs are just as high. Further, plastic bags consume less
than 4% of the water needed to produce paper bags, and are far less expensive than paper bags
in cost per case and in shipping.
A solution that is better - aligned with the County's environmental quality policies, we
feel, is one that modifies consumer behavior through choices. Imposing a fee per bag — paper or
plastic — can induce many consumers into switching to reusable bags as a money- saving
incentive, and reduce the use of single -use disposable bags over the long term.
Comm. No. t' • 155
Ref. To Ply« Counci)
Ref. date AUG 2 5 2 011
Lance N. Tanaka on behalf of Tesoro Hawaii Corporation
Written testimony in opposition to Bill 17, Draft 2
Hearing of the Hawaii County Council
Thursday, August 25, 2011, 5:00 p.m., Hilo Council Room
25 Aupuni Street, First Floor, Room 1401, Hilo
Page 2
In closing, Tesoro Hawaii applauds the Hawaii County Council for pursuing such
legislation in the interest of good stewardship of the environment. We strongly urge you to
consider amending the bill, as drafted, from a measure that leaves consumers with no choice
into a more sustainable model that enables Big Island residents to change their purchasing
habits through choices.
On behalf of Tesoro Hawaii, I thank the Hawaii County Council for allowing me to submit
written testimony and for your kind consideration of these recommendations.
Sincerely,
Lance N. Tanaka
Manager, Government & Public Affairs
Tesoro Hawaii Corporation