HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0064.194 2010-2012Donn Mende
PO Box 5476
Hilo, HI 96720
November 3, 2011
COUNTY of HAWAII
2011 NOV -7 PH 1:29
Dominic Yagong, Chairperson and Members of the Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
PI COUNCIL
P ■Aol_ic [ R1 MC;
Dear Chair Yagong and Council Members:
RE: Statement in Opposition to Bill 17 Draft 2 (Plastic Bag Ban)
Thank you for this opportunity to address the Council on an issue that I believe is important to
myself and all who live on our Island.
I oppose Bill 17 Draft 2 because I believe a fee bill would be more in line to incent the kinds of
reaction(s) and /or behavior(s) the bill is trying to obtain.
Reasons for your consideration:
• A ban on plastic bags would push the consumer to switch to paper bags while providing
no incentive for them to bring a reusable bag.
• Paper bags take more energy to produce and recycle then plastic bags.
• A fee on ALL single use bags places the cost onus where it should be, on the bags!
Banning Plastic bags increases the cost of business and again does not encourage
consumers to bring their own bag.
• Washington D.C. imposed a 5 cent per bag fee on retailers and restaurants. Within the
first month of the program, the average monthly number of bags used in D.C. decreased
over 80% from 22.5 million bags to just 3 million.
Mahalo for the opportunity to contribute this testimony.
Donn Mende
Comm. /951
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